Barcelona, Majorca, Menorca, San Sebastián, Granada, Ibiza, Venice and other Destinations in the List: June 15 Water-Pistol Protests Erupt Across Southern Europe’s Overtourism Hotspots

On June 15, 2025, a wave of symbolic yet powerful water-pistol protests will sweep across Europe’s most pressured tourist destinations—including Barcelona, Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca, San Sebastián, Granada, Tenerife, Málaga, and neighboring Venice and Lisbon—to call attention to the social and environmental costs of overtourism.

The protests, organized by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification (SET) and supported by campaigns like Menys Turisme Més Vida, aim to shine a spotlight on overcrowded streets, disappearing housing stock, and ecological strain.

June 15 aligns with broader efforts:

Experts propose these core reforms:

June 15 marks a unified stand by Barcelona, Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca, San Sebastián, Granada, Tenerife, Madrid, Málaga, Lisbon, and Venice. The use of water pistols is a metaphorical call—not condemnation—to rebalance tourism’s scale and protect local life.

Governments are responding with tangible reform, but the protest surge underscores urgency. Tourist behavior needs recalibration: off-peak travel, local spending, and cultural respect can ensure Europe’s charm remains intact—for both residents and travelers.

Inclusion, sustainability, and shared benefits must become tourism’s new trajectory—before Europe’s popular cities lose their soul to unchecked crowds.