- Time of past OR future Camino
- September-October 2021
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This is a 7-minute video about residents of Barcelona protesting against over-tourism. It also comments on protests in other parts of the world. It also comments on the economic benefits for the tourist industry as well as the economic suffering of the residents.
The video is from YouTube. There are numerous articles from around the world about these protests.
The problem is not the consequences for the visitors but the problems for the inhabitants of the cities that receive many visitors(the sparce houses that are rented to tourists via Air B&B, the crowds and so on)Hey, if towns don’t want visitors, go elsewhere, or go off season! I have been to St. Peter’s in Rome at least 5 times. This past December ‘23 we were there in early December and entered when it first opened at 7:30am. We went through security in less than a minute, no lines. Then we spent about two hours there before maybe 200 people were inside. It was the first time I actually was able to absorb the beauty and experience the sacredness of the sight. And it was the first time I could actually see the floors of the Cathedral. On previous visits, there were such large crowds one couldn’t really see the markings on the floors. So controlled tourism may really benefit those who are fortunate enough to visit.
I have a tech project manager friend (born in Ponferrada) who lives and works in Barcelona and she often complains about over tourism and bnb (back in 2008) - wealthier locals and outsiders buy up cheaper housing and turn into short-term rentals which results in lack of affordable housing for low to middle income natives. I can see the problem amplified when I travel south from Barcelona to Cadiz...so many high rise condos for 100s of kilometers along the coast. In conversations, I hear from expats that we provide income to the locals (housekeeping, construction etc) but that is one side of the coin. And this will take the discussion down the rat hole. As @MichaelB10398 so eloquently stated "wherever I travel, I am a guest, and my behavior should remain respectful and considerate."In my humble opinion, the contrast between tourism in Barcelona and the rest of Spain is quite pronounced. Barcelona finds itself inundated with all types of tourists, while Santiago follows a different path with more restricted tourism. For instance, while Barcelona receives a staggering 800 cruise ships annually, bringing over 3.5 million passengers, Santiago remains untouched by such maritime traffic. The closest cruise ships to Santiago de Compostela (SdC) dock at La Coruña, a distance of 47 miles away.
However, a global shift in mindset has occurred, emphasizing personal entitlement and satisfaction. The inconvenience caused by tourism, often seen as an “assault” on local culture, is now met with less tolerance. For me, this serves as a reminder: wherever I travel, I am a guest, and my behavior should remain respectful and considerate.
The problem is not the consequences for the visitors but the problems for the inhabitants of the cities that receive many visitors(the sparce houses that are rented to tourists via Air B&B, the crowds and so on)
Yep in many places around our world,I wonder if that Eagles song applies here?
That was the other song!Joni Mitchell had it fairly covered “they pave Paradise, put up a parking lot”, though I was always fond of the rhyme in “they took all the trees put’em in a tree museum, and they charged all the people a dollar and a half just to see’em”.
The fact remains we are not stuck in traffic, we are traffic
Yes! It was not my intention to focus on the root causes……that may be your focus. There is a reality to the massive overload of tourists in cities, such as Barcelona, venice, Florence, CinqueTerra, SdC. I can’t change what apartment owners decide in Barcelona, nor can I control what interventions cities put in place. However, by traveling at off times, we can alleviate some of the congestion, however small our footprint might be. The offseason choices would benefit these cities, but also us with cheaper prices, shorter lines, availability in accommodations. Many of us on this website are retired and could be flexible when we travel.The problem is not the consequences for the visitors but the problems for the inhabitants of the cities that receive many visitors(the sparce houses that are rented to tourists via Air B&B, the crowds and so on)
Nah, I'd rather fire them up till we reach the point where the administrations actually extract their heads from their (sunshine free areas) and do something. A Tourist Tax of €10 or even €100 will not change any of it and will never benefit the young couple sharing an apartment with mom, dad and grandma. Even if every cent was spent on social housing and free transport. Barca have said they'll not renew any "temporary accommodation licences" when they expire. Apparently that'll take at least 5 years. I'm not sure why everything takes 5 years. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the election cycle.Do you want to tamp down the anger of Barcelona locals?
Just back from Venice and the cruise ships are now docking at a port about 15/20 km south of Venice. But the city has introduced a new tourist tax, E25 per day, unless you are staying in a hotel. Not been to Barcelona for 50 years, not intending to return.I would be hesitant about visiting Barcelona or Venice, particularly by cruise ship. This April, the locals in the beautiful port of Kuşadası, Türkiye, seemed very happy to receive the tourists from our Viking liner to their town because it was early in the season.
But yes, I am hesitant about visiting Barcelona at all.
I have been to Santiago but once--for about 10 days--and after my camino. After walking throughout the greater Santiago area I could see why there was discontent in how their Euros were being spent.Nah, I'd rather fire them up till we reach the point where the administrations actually extract their heads from their (sunshine free areas) and do something. A Tourist Tax of €10 or even €100 will not change any of it and will never benefit the young couple sharing an apartment with mom, dad and grandma. Even if every cent was spent on social housing and free transport. Barca have said they'll not renew any "temporary accommodation licences" when they expire. Apparently that'll take at least 5 years. I'm not sure why everything takes 5 years. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the election cycle.
And none of this has anything to do with Camino, or rather the pilgrimage to Santiago along the camino ways but we should note the protests in Galicia last year where the people who actually live there all the time expressed their discontent at yet another multi-million allocation of their €'s to making the camino routes smoother, better sign-posted and globally advertised. What they'd rather like is schools, health centres and sheltered housing for grandma so they can go to work and try and make their lives a little better.
I'm planning my swan song camino: I'm planning to wear a slogan t-shirt.
"Lo siento,
no volveré a hacer esto!"
I am curious what are some of those places you refer to, where tourists have left after protests.If the tourists leave, as has happened in a few places following silly protests like this, the local economy will take a big hit.
I don't think that calling them "silly protests" helps the dialog at all!Hope this helps the dialog,
Exactly. That is the issue, and the reason behind the protests - some people think there are too many tourists!Too much of a good thing is frequently not a good thing.
My own opinion is that a cruise ship passenger on an excursion to Santiago can be a pilgrim though I have no way of judging which of them might be.There are Pilgrims to Santiago and then there are tourists--cruise ship passengers on excursions are tourists, they are not Pilgrims!!
I disagree. There is no practical difference between a tourist and a pilgrim other than in the mind of the individual.Short answer: highly unlikely. Barcelona is up there with Venice regarding saturation point from tourism. Tourists is one thing, pilgrims is another. Santiago has been welcoming pilgrims for decades. Barcelona gets “mass tourism,” a big difference.
Looking for rationality in gut reactions is futile. This too will pass. You are right; just abide.The world is changing, and so must I. I try to stay flexible and bend with the wind..
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This is an enlightened comment from someone who does not live in the problem area.Looking for rationality in gut reactions is futile. This too will pass. You are right; just abide.
Looking for rationality in gut reactions is futile. This too will pass. You are right; just abide.
Residents are suffering from MASS tourism. Their local culture, flavor and ease of mobility, increased rents are all negatively impacted. But the controls should go to the local governments to represent the will of their voters and not the will of their pockets at the expense of their constituents. And we as visitors need to be mindful of our behavior and respect their customs.I wonder if those mounting these protests know how many local jobs are directly or indirectly the result of tourism. If the tourists leave, as has happened in a few places following silly protests like this, the local economy will take a big hit. Getting the jobs and the tourists that spawn them, back, is not an easy thing to do. Biting the proverbial "hand that feeds you" is not the way to go.
If local governments levy tourist taxes, and then, local folks cause tourists to leave, the local government will suffer the loss. Reductions in local services could result.
This is a case, where things must be done in moderation. Too much of a good thing is frequently not a good thing. Right now, with the peak tourist season approaching across Europe, we may see more of this.
It is my hope that cooler head prevail at major attractions, such as Santiago de Compostela. What is occurring at Barcelona is a shame. But they cannot have it both ways. If tourism is a main part of the local economy, then they must find ways to live with it - as a cost of living there. OTOH, if the city can live without tourism expenditures, then, by all means, resist tourism. But do not complain when your local economy craters.
Hope this helps the dialog,
Tom
One of my favourite songs ever! The Last Resort.I wonder if that Eagles song applies here?
Many Santiago residents strenuously disagree with that opinion. We’ve had many discussions of this in the past, complete with pictures of half-naked pilgrims picnicing on Obradoiro — see one such discussion here. I’m not suggesting that all pilgrims cause all or most of the problems, but there is a lot of local sentiment expressed against a wide range of bad pilgrim behavior.Pilgrims are not tourists, and Santiago is not Barcelona. Pilgrims have been walking to Santiago for more than a thousand years, and they will continue to do so. Few Santiago residents were born there, and many are new arrivals, drawn by the tourist economy. Pilgrims will only crowd a limited area around the Cathedral. The rest of the city is pilgrim-free. What is becoming a problem are tourists arriving by the busload, as in other affected cities, and hiring airbnb's.
You are right, some pilgrim's questionable manners hurt us all. Maybe a few signs in Obradoiro warning against picnics and nudity will help a lot.Many Santiago residents strenuously disagree with that opinion. We’ve had many discussions of this in the past, complete with pictures of half-naked pilgrims picnicing on Obradoiro — see one such discussion here. I’m not suggesting that all pilgrims cause all or most of the problems, but there is a lot of local sentiment expressed against a wide range of bad pilgrim behavior.
Rubbish! It's more politically motivated. It's impossible to regulate tourism when the central government are trying to balance the books. If you're going to make ridiculous statements about banning certain sectors of tourism...read about the financial gains. Or become less egotistical and stop flying, so much! Saving the planet! @EbutTom, . was a major part of Barca’s economy. It was an adjunct. The city is a major manufacturing centre, a financial centre and a port. The cruise ships bring very little benefit: passengers eat on board and save most of their drinking for on board too. Their money goes to the cruise companies not the city of Barcelona. Other visitors are still spending their money with package tour companies and extra-national owned hotel chains. Sadly, its the independent travellers who do spend money in the bars, restaurants and other attractions that are also responsible for soaking up so much of the local accommodations that even those who do work in the hospitality industry find themselves with a two hour commute to get to work.
I love Barca. I’ve been visiting since the 1970’s but not in the last decade. I remember when the chief of police was asked what he was going to do about the increase in violent robberies particularly affecting passengers from the cruise ships. He said “ban the cruise ships”. Sadly no one took him seriously
My myopic take follows along these sentiments.You are right, some pilgrim's questionable manners hurt us all. Maybe a few signs in Obradoiro warning against picnics and nudity will help a lot.
Weeblair1967, I thought I had asked a simple question with my original post. I knew if this thread were to have more than a few comments there would be disagreements--and there have been. But the comments have been respectful, as they should be in this forum.Rubbish! It's more politically motivated. It's impossible to regulate tourism when the central government are trying to balance the books. If you're going to make ridiculous statements about banning certain sectors of tourism...read about the financial gains. Or become less egotistical and stop flying, so much! Saving the planet! @Ebut
I think you are off by several factors of ten.Santiago has been welcoming pilgrims for decades.
I'm not sure that the picture that, until recently most of the visitors to Santiago were foot pilgrims and the number of visitors flying in or busing in was limited holds up to much scrutiny. If anything, foot pilgrims are a much, much higher percentage of visitors now than they were last century.Pilgrims are not tourists, and Santiago is not Barcelona. Pilgrims have been walking to Santiago for more than a thousand years, and they will continue to do so. Few Santiago residents were born there, and many are new arrivals, drawn by the tourist economy. Pilgrims will only crowd a limited area around the Cathedral. The rest of the city is pilgrim-free. What is becoming a problem are tourists arriving by the busload, as in other affected cities, and hiring airbnb's.
Those attitudes are by no means limited to Americans. Selfish entitlement is not uncommon on the Camino, and people who are afflicted with it generally have no idea how obnoxious their behavior is. If they knew they'd probably be quite different - but it's very hard to see the lenses through with we see the world and each other.Much to my dismay, it exposes some ugly Americans
Funny. They offer a "non-religious pilgrimage" in Japan while neglecting to mention (in the quick summary) that the camino in Spain is a pilgrimage at all.I suggest you read about who they are and the services they offer.
But do such groups of visitors have much to do with any overcrowding in Santiago? Surely not.I'm guessing that 99% of the average Camino Pilgram is not in a position to pay the cost of this type of "retreat."
Now the thread is getting interestinginally had a look at an article in the UK press about the recent protest in Barcelona. Previously I had only seen the photos and headlines about the water pistols. The issue is the housing crisis, i.e. the high rents for locals and the high prices for buying an apartment for locals. Fuelled by AirBnB and similar developments.
Both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers have automatic translation tools built in which do an excellent job in giving a reasonable English version from text in Spanish or Galego. Not always perfect but usually clear enough. No need to confine your reading solely to material published in English.Like Kathar1na, I prefer to read local news. This type of news usually reflects a truer view of local perspectives on local issues. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any English-language news sites for Santiago.
Agreed, but I have to say I personally find it much harder to find relevant articles when I search. It's a little bit like researching in German for me - some things just do not translate well, and whilst my spoken German is moderately good my written is terrible. Which leads to far less relevant results.Both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers have automatic translation tools built in which do an excellent job in giving a reasonable English version from text in Spanish or Galego. Not always perfect but usually clear enough. No need to confine your reading solely to material published in English.
Most of my searching tends to be fairly specifically related to the Caminos and pilgrimage so I routinely use a small number of key words. But I also go directly to the homepages of the two main Santiago based newspapers and see them in translation. From there it is usually pretty easy to follow links to relevant articles which are also translated almost instantly.Agreed, but I have to say I personally find it much harder to find relevant articles when I search.
I finally had a look at an article in the UK press about the recent protest in Barcelona. Previously I had only seen the photos and headlines about the water pistols. The issue is the housing crisis, i.e. the high rents for locals and the high prices for buying an apartment for locals. Fuelled by AirBnB and similar developments. Which is of course not only the tourists’ fault. In one of the articles in the Galician press about “turistas” in Santiago, a house owner is quoted as saying that if he can’t rent to tourists in future because the city administration will prohibit it he will consider selling his property because renting it to students will not produce enough income. Santiago is a major university town and apparently also a centre for all sorts of international congresses and similar events.
Also, one of the linked articles in this thread mentions gentrification. But is gentrification a result of overtourism? I don’t think so. It happens when financially more affluent locals move into parts of a town where less affluent locals have lived all their lives and get forced out because they can no longer afford the rent. It has to do with inequality and not tourism.
I was in Spain for two months in 2019. In Girona I saw only a few tourists, but there was a giant banner hung across the center of town that in English only said they wanted tourists to leave because they were taking all the housing. In Santiago after a month of walking in the summer heat there was graffiti in multiple places, again only in English, that said "tourists go home". It was really deflating. Pilgrims have come there for a century.This is a 7-minute video about residents of Barcelona protesting against over-tourism. It also comments on protests in other parts of the world. It also comments on the economic benefits for the tourist industry as well as the economic suffering of the residents.
The video is from YouTube. There are numerous articles from around the world about these protests.
I saw "Tourists go home" grafitti in Santiago. It made me think, and listen. I've completed 4 caminos, that's enough, I will find other places to walk that are not overrun and getting spoilt by tourism.This is a 7-minute video about residents of Barcelona protesting against over-tourism. It also comments on protests in other parts of the world. It also comments on the economic benefits for the tourist industry as well as the economic suffering of the residents.
The video is from YouTube. There are numerous articles from around the world about these protests.
Not to be discouraged @Getwood. It's not an issue along most of the CF. And my experience in Santiago has always been positive. The negative impact of too many people is not concentrated in one place along the way. So if you make a point of not staying in the bigger guide book stage-ending towns, you'll find the kind of welcome that isn't jaded by exhaustion or overcrowding.reading messages like these in the forums has truly dampened my enthusiasm for walking the Camino Frances
A major contribution is all the offerings from AirBnB owners. This in turn leads to fewer apartments available for our own citizents. People, especially young, are beginning to move to other places
Greed on the part of property owners hurts everyone else. I make a point of not using AirBnB. Why support a phenomenon that hurts locals?across the globe, people have figured out how to maximise their income from this business, the downsides don’t impact them and there is no incentive to rein it in.
I recently read that Barcelona, a big city with 5.712.000 citizens, has some 10.000 AriBnB offerings. My town, with only 80.000 people, has 1.500 apartments for shorttime rental on that platform... We are in much deeper sh*t than Barcelona...
Yes, this has to stop. It is killing cities, like my own.Barcelona is going to ban all short term rentals, Airbnb is the primary but not only one. Effective in 5 years, 2029.
Existing licenses will not be renewed and new licenses will not be issued, so that by 2029 there will be none left.
Alexwalker, maybe some ground roots action will have some effect.
@Getwood, I agree with @VNwalking, do not be discouraged.Not to be discouraged @Getwood. It's not an issue along most of the CF. And my experience in Santiago has always been positive. The negative impact of too many people is not concentrated in one place along the way. So if you make a point of not staying in the bigger guide book stage-ending towns, you'll find the kind of welcome that isn't jaded by exhaustion or overcrowding.
Greed on the part of property owners hurts everyone else. I make a point of not using AirBnB. Why support a phenomenon that hurts locals?
Small family-run places are always a joy, both private albergues and hostels/pensions.@Getwood, I agree with @VNwalking, do not be discouraged.
Stay away from all Airbnb's and hotels. Stop a mile/km before or after the suggested stop in the guidebooks.
You will be surprised how much you enjoy the smaller Gite's/Hostels--and the families that run them.
Get your friends together, Alex. Start a protest or petition - or something. Community organization works, and it's very satisfying not to simply be a passive victim of something that isn't inevitable.Alexwalker, maybe some ground roots action will have some effect.
Meh, I've got a couple of hotels in the mix, mostly due to lack of available space elsewhere. A smattering of albergues, pensions and hostals/hostels, and around a third of my journey is off-stage anyways, again due to lack of accommodations at the suggested stage-ends. Will make for some long days (I walk from SJPdP to Burguete [28.4km] as well as Burgos to Hontanas [31.1km], as just two examples). I'm trying to stay away from group accomms for two reasons: I snore, sometimes quite badly, and as I've aged, my bathroom habits at night are bound to disrupt others' sleep. I'm saving people's sanity here!@Getwood, I agree with @VNwalking, do not be discouraged.
Stay away from all Airbnb's and hotels. Stop a mile/km before or after the suggested stop in the guidebooks.
You will be surprised how much you enjoy the smaller Gite's/Hostels--and the families that run them.
That's an understandable reaction, based on previous experience. But in thousands of kms on various caminos, often alone, I've never once been "targeted as "easy pickings" by the less-savoury of the locals," or witnessed anything remotely out of control. Quite the opposite. In your shoes I'd be holding those conditioned responses lightly, and just go and see for myself.I've seen similar situations spiral out of control surprisingly quickly, and now my radar's up and pinging.
I have to agree with this. My first visit was in the 70's and it was a pleasant and flourishing city without it's present issues of tourist inundation and dispossession of locals from inner city dwellings. The tourist economy benefits specifically those working in it, but not so much other citizens.Tom, tourism never was a major part of Barca’s economy. It was an adjunct. The city is a major manufacturing centre, a financial centre and a port. The cruise ships bring very little benefit: passengers eat on board and save most of their drinking for on board too. Their money goes to the cruise companies not the city of Barcelona. Other visitors are still spending their money with package tour companies and extra-national owned hotel chains. Sadly, its the independent travellers who do spend money in the bars, restaurants and other attractions that are also responsible for soaking up so much of the local accommodations that even those who do work in the hospitality industry find themselves with a two hour commute to get to work.
I love Barca. I’ve been visiting since the 1970’s but not in the last decade. I remember when the chief of police was asked what he was going to do about the increase in violent robberies particularly affecting passengers from the cruise ships. He said “ban the cruise ships”. Sadly no one took him seriously
There are 360 degrees in a circle. So far as I recall. I left school in 1965. Imagine!I must admit, reading messages like these in the forums has truly dampened my enthusiasm for walking the Camino Frances, to the point where I'm re-considering going at all. I still have a little over a month to cancel my plans before the financial penalties become painful, but it might actually be the best course of action.
This is precisely what's happening along the coast of Maine in the US where I live.And to stay a bit closer to the Camino, the same is starting to happen in Asturias. It has gotten very hard to find houses or apartments for rent, also in the countryside. Rental contracts go from September till June. In July and August the houses and apartments are reserved for tourists.
But it is good for the local economy, isn't it? To some extent yes, of course. But on the flip side of the coin, there is only lots of work in the summer season, in winter unemployment rises again. In summer it is now becoming harder and harder to find staff. Here in Asturias restaurants have already closed down because of lack of employees. One of the reasons must be that it has become almost impossible for waiters and kitchen staff to find a place to live in summer.
When I searched for this on the Internet, I only found a 5 euro tourist tax per day in Venice? €25 might actually keep people away because it can add up if you go for a few days. Was that a typo or is there something I didn't find?Just back from Venice and the cruise ships are now docking at a port about 15/20 km south of Venice. But the city has introduced a new tourist tax, E25 per day, unless you are staying in a hotel. Not been to Barcelona for 50 years, not intending to return.
Thanks for the comment, I based my report on a briefly posted message on a travel website. That may have been where the error came from. CheersWhen I searched for this on the Internet, I only found a 5 euro tourist tax per day in Venice? €25 might actually keep people away because it can add up if you go for a few days. Was that a typo or is there something I didn't find?
https://www.veneziaunica.it/en/content/practical-information has all the necessary information about how much you have to pay when you visit Venice, depending on when, how long and where you stay. There is the Venice Access Fee (€ 5) and the Venice Tourist Tax (maximum € 25 for a stay of 5 days or more). You have to pay the Access Fee directly yourself, the Tourist Tax is added when you pay your invoice for your accommodation as usual everywhere. As the website explains, the Venice Tourist Tax varies according to the time of year (high season from 1st February to 31st December; low season from 1st to 31st January) and the location, type and classification of the accommodation facility.When I searched for this on the Internet, I only found a 5 euro tourist tax per day in Venice? €25 might actually keep people away because it can add up if you go for a few days. Was that a typo or is there something I didn't find?
Stayed in Venice maybe 5 times in the last 5 years, including within the last year, and don’t recall paying any taxes, maybe they were absorbed somewhere . Stayed both on the ‘island’ were the tourists go, getting off the train at Santa Lucia, and across the water in the ‘main city’ by Mestre station and the cheap hostels! Not sure where the ‘border’ is. If you are in the region try and get to Verona too.https://www.veneziaunica.it/en/content/practical-information has all the necessary information about how much you have to pay when you visit Venice, depending on when, how long and where you stay. There is the Venice Access Fee (€ 5) and the Venice Tourist Tax (maximum € 25 for a stay of 5 days or more). You have to pay the Access Fee directly yourself, the Tourist Tax is added when you pay your invoice for your accommodation as usual everywhere. As the website explains, the Venice Tourist Tax varies according to the time of year (high season from 1st February to 31st December; low season from 1st to 31st January) and the location, type and classification of the accommodation facility.
Unlike Venice, Santiago de Compostela has neither an Access Fee nor a Tourist Tax.
Ah yes, the tourist tax. Much talked about but rarely noticed.Stayed in Venice maybe 5 times in the last 5 years, including within the last year, and don’t recall paying any taxes, maybe they were absorbed somewhere .
No wouldn’t have got an invoice, or would have discarded immediately. The only Italian city that seems to verbally always mention the tourist tax is Rome. €2 from memory. Never seem to anywhere else.Ah yes, the tourist tax. Much talked about but rarely noticed.
As mentioned on their website, the Venice tourist tax depends, among other things, on the type of your accommodation. If it was a hotel of any category, did you keep the receipt and asked for an invoice? If so, do have a look.
Many guests don't notice the tourist tax although it is usually listed explicitly on the invoice. One can see it also on websites, for example I checked Booking.com for a randomly selected hotel in Venice in August (boy, are they expensive) and I see this for the price of a room for one night and one person:
View attachment 174659
Here the Venice tourist tax is called "city tax". Switch the website to Italian and it is called "tassa di soggiorno" (stay tax). Switch it to German and it is called "Übernachtungssteuer" (staying overnight tax). It will be the same should Santiago de Compostela eventually introduce such a tax. The majority of pilgrims - those who do spend a night in the town - will not even notice its existence. And it's purpose it not to keep people away. It's purpose it to raise money for the city's treasurer.
* our home is not the patio of gringos" it is not normal saying that in Spain. I read all the banners on the photos and none says that. The general term for foreign visitors from Europe or North America is " guiri".Now also in Alicante:
Hundreds of Spanish demonstrators march through Alicante demanding holidaymakers 'leave our neighbourhoods' as wave of anti-tourist sentiment continues in the Mediterranean with protesters insisting: 'Our home is not the patio of gringos' - Surge Rad
Hundreds of protestors rallied in Alicante today against perceived ‘overtourism’ in the latest such demonstration to hit Spain – and the first major event to be staged in the city. Scores of residents met at the central Plaza Toros with banners and flags reading ‘Leave our neighbourhoods’, ‘our...surgeradio.cl
Thank you for noticing this and pointing it out, @Pelegrin. You are one of the very forum members who live in Spain and are a native of Spain and of the Galician region.* our home is not the patio of gringos" it is not normal saying that in Spain. I read all the banners on the photos and none says that. The general term for foreign visitors from Europe or North America is " guiri".
I rarely ask for an invoice for a stay at a hotel and if I get one, in paper form or by email, I, too, throw it away or delete it.No wouldn’t have got an invoice, or would have discarded immediately. The only Italian city that seems to verbally always mention the tourist tax is Rome. €2 from memory. Never seem to anywhere else.
Ten points go to @peregrina2000!Scrolling through the pictures showed this one. It’s not a big deal, but the reporting is accurate.
View attachment 174694
No reason to mention " gringos" in Alicante because the number of people from.the USA living in this province is in 32 position. First is United Kingdom.Scrolling through the pictures showed this one. It’s not a big deal, but the reporting is accurate.
View attachment 174694
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