In Barcelona, Spain, a new protest trend has emerged as locals express growing frustration over excessive tourism. On June 17, 2025, approximately 1,000 individuals marched through popular tourist areas, including the luxury shopping boulevard near La Sagrada Familia. Some protestors used low-cost plastic water guns to spray tourists while chanting slogans like “One more tourist, one less resident.” This unusual protest tool first appeared last July during a rally organized by the Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth. Initially used for cooling down in the summer heat, the water guns soon transformed into a symbolic protest device. Demonstrators believe that mass tourism is disrupting local life and inflating housing prices, prompting an outcry against what they describe as the city’s transformation into a commercialized theme park.

According to organizers, the water gun is not meant to harm but to illustrate growing discontent. Protesters such as Lourdes Sánchez explained that the toy represents a peaceful method of opposition. Others, like architect Laurens Schocher, stated that the goal is to pressure city authorities rather than confront tourists directly. However, reactions have varied. While some tourists viewed the spray as a harmless act in hot weather, others expressed fear and discomfort, particularly when verbal slogans like “Tourist go home!” were heard. Despite the controversial method, experts warn that tourism remains a vital component of the local economy, and addressing its negative effects requires thoughtful urban planning rather than symbolic gestures alone. The movement underscores an intensifying debate over sustainability, civic identity, and economic dependency in global tourist hubs.