Thousands have protested against mass tourism and its consequences in Barcelona, Spain's most-visited city. Around 2,800 demonstrators recently marched through the Catalan regional capital under the slogan "Enough! Let's set limits to tourism." The participants chanted slogans such as "Tourists, go home; you are not welcome."

Local anger is rising. They are demanding restrictions on the tourism industry, which has caused a rise in real estate prices, environmental pollution, traffic congestion, general overcrowding and a water shortage. The healthcare system is also overloaded due to the growing number of visitors.

Barcelona is more popular than ever. As more and more apartments have been converted into vacation homes, rents have risen by 68% over the past decade, according to the dpa agency.

Barcelona has announced measures to combat the housing shortage. A few weeks ago, the city council announced that it would no longer allow vacation apartments for tourists from 2028. Instead, the more than 10,000 vacation apartments will be made available to permanent tenants once more. However, landlords are threatening to legally challenge the measure.

Dissatisfaction with mass tourism is not only widespread in Barcelona but throughout the country. In recent weeks, Thousands of people have also demonstrated in Andalusia to express their discontent. In Malaga, around 25,000 people took to the streets, where the housing shortage is at the heart of the protests.

With more than 12,000 legally registered vacation homes, Malaga is only just behind Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. In addition, many private accommodations for tourists in Málaga, as elsewhere, are allegedly operated illegally.

In Cadiz, also in Andalusia, hundreds of people gathered in the historic center to protest mass tourism. "The city has become an amusement park," a 26-year-old demonstrator complained in an interview with AFP. Numerous cruise ships dock in the port city every year.

In Mallorca, anger was also directed at drunkards and partygoers. Behind a banner with the slogan "Mallorca is not for sale," thousands of families, students and seniors marched through the streets.

According to the Spanish Statistics Institute (INE), more than 85 million tourists from abroad came to Spain last year, more than ever before. Experts expect even more international guests this year, so the protests are certain to continue.

Venice is one of the most scenic cities in Europe. Unfortunately, this beauty has cost it dearly, as millions of tourists flood into the city every year, crowding out residents. In a bid to ease the pressure, city authorities have considered an entry fee for day-trippers, many of whom disembark from massive cruise ships. Venice has seen regular anti-tourist protests in recent years.

Florence is another city many tourists find hard to resist thanks to its beautiful Renaissance architecture and world-class museums. The downside, however, is that visitors will struggle to come across locals, as much of the inner city is overrun by tourists. Florentine authorities and residents are desperate to fight overtourism.

It's rare to have Rome's Spanish Steps (pictured), or any other famous landmark, to yourself. The Italian capital's many historical and cultural attractions make it a veritable tourist magnet — in 2019, Rome recorded some 26 million overnight stays. Authorities have sought to better manage the masses by restricting access to the Trevi Fountain and not allowing people to sit on the Spanish Steps.

Whether sampling famous Czech beer, strolling across Charles Bridge (pictured) or simply absorbing its great atmosphere, the Czech capital offers plenty to see and do. Unfortunately, the city of 1.3 million people received some 7 to 8 million annual tourists per year before the pandemic. Although recent visitor figures are lower due to COVID-19, many locals are tired of the masses.

Dubrovnik has become a household name ever since it featured in the television series "Game of Thrones." Its picturesque UNESCO-listed old town is certainly special. Yet over the years, visitor numbers have overwhelmed the small town, rising steeply from 500,000 people in 2011 to 1.5 million in 2019. Authorities have considered restricting access to the historic center.

Amsterdam has been plagued by overtourism for years, owing to its reputation as a heaven for hedonists. Many locals are exasperated and feel their quality of life is being diminished by hordes of tourists clogging the city's streets. In response, the city began banning the consumption of alcohol in certain areas and plans to do the same with cannabis. Some 18 million tourists are expected in 2023.

In 2019, Barcelona received a record 12 million visitors, even though its population is just 1.6 million people. Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to a considerable drop in visitor numbers, many are fed up with mass tourism and its impact on the urban fabric. In 2022, the city introduced restrictions on guided tours of central Barcelona. A cap on inner-city accommodations also exists.

Before the pandemic, somewhere between 4 to 6 million tourists descended on Lisbon every year. It's a staggering figure, given that Portugal's capital is home to just half a million people. Mass tourism exerts tremendous pressure on the housing sector, with scores of apartments converted into holiday rentals and low-wage earners forced out of popular districts like the Alfama neighborhood.