protest

Europe's Tourism Reckoning: A Worldschooling Family's Guide to Navigating the 2025 Overtourism Crisis

The water pistols in Barcelona weren't aimed at all tourists, they were symbols of desperation from residents who love their cities too much to watch them disappear.

Adam Clarkson

20 Jun 2025 — 9 min read

Photo by Anton Etmanov / Unsplash (Image from 2024 used for illustrative purposes)

The summer of 2025 marked a historic turning point for European tourism. On June 15th, thousands of residents across Spain, Portugal, and Italy took to the streets in coordinated protests, water pistols aimed at tourists in Barcelona, "Tourist Go Home" banners draped across Lisbon's historic streets, and smoke grenades set off near the Sagrada Família. This unprecedented wave of anti-tourism demonstrations represents the largest coordinated resistance to overtourism in European history¹, fundamentally challenging the continent's tourism-dependent economic model.

For families like ours who have chosen the worldschooling path, these protests force an uncomfortable but necessary conversation about our role in the very crisis we're witnessing. While long-term travelers often impact destinations differently than cruise passengers or day-trippers, we cannot ignore that our presence contributes to the systemic pressures overwhelming Europe's most beloved cities. Understanding this crisis, and our place within it, is essential as we navigate our responsibilities as global citizens.

The scale of Europe's tourism crisis has reached a breaking point

Europe welcomed 747 million international arrivals in 2024², exceeding pre-pandemic levels and representing over half of global international tourism. But raw numbers only tell part of the story. The real crisis lies in concentration and intensity: destinations like Barcelona face a 19:1 tourist-to-resident ratio³, while Zakynthos, Greece experiences 150 overnight stays per resident annually. Amsterdam hosts 18 tourists for every local resident⁴, and Venice's historic center now has more tourist beds than resident beds.

a crowd of people in front of a white building — Photo by Hubert Buratynski / Unsplash

These aren't abstract statistics, they represent a fundamental transformation of living cities into tourist playgrounds. In Barcelona, rent prices have surged 68% over the past decade⁵ while the city welcomes 12.4 million visitors annually for just 1.7 million residents. Venice's population has plummeted from 120,000 in the 1990s to 55,000 today, with 6 out of 10 houses now converted to tourist-only rentals⁶. Teachers in the Balearic Islands finish their school year "living in a van" because landlords evict them each summer for more profitable tourist rentals.

The Southern Europe Against Overtourism (SET) network has evolved from scattered local protests into a coordinated resistance movement spanning multiple countries⁷. Their June 15th demonstrations drew thousands across Barcelona, Lisbon, Venice, Naples, and a dozen other cities, with protesters using water pistols as symbols of their desperation. The movement's message is clear: "Tourism robs us of our food, shelter and future."

Local residents face displacement from their own cities

Behind every protest sign lies a personal story of displacement. In Barcelona's tourist-heavy neighborhoods, Daniel Pardo describes sleeping with earplugs or developing "mental health problems"⁸ from constant night noise, while finding only "about two affordable bars left in the area." María Carmen Pujadó, a vendor at the famous Boqueria Market, watches traditional customers disappear⁹ as the market transforms into a tourist attraction rather than a community resource.

a crowd of people walking around a market — Photo by Martijn Vonk / Unsplash

Venice residents navigate daily life around crowds and wheelie suitcases, enduring disrespectful behavior like swimming in canals and picnicking on bridges¹⁰. The city's infrastructure strains under up to 120,000 daily visitors while serving just 55,000 residents. Basic services like pharmacies become difficult to find as commercial spaces convert to tourist-oriented businesses charging prices no local can afford.

Housing represents the crisis's most devastating impact. Málaga bar owner Dani Drunko was "kicked out" of his decade-long home¹¹ when his landlord refused rent negotiation to convert the property for short-term rentals. Across the Canary Islands, healthcare and education professionals refuse job positions because housing costs have become prohibitive for local salaries. The statistics are stark: Barcelona faces 15.6 million annual tourists against 1.6 million residents, creating an unsustainable competition for housing and public services.

Environmental degradation compounds these pressures. Barcelona's port produces 32.8 tonnes of sulphur oxide daily from cruise ships—five times more than all the city's cars combined¹². Tourism-related air pollution contributes to nearly half of childhood asthma cases in the city, while trash accounts for 38% of fishermen's catch in the metropolitan area's waters.

white cruise ship on large body of water — Photo by Jon Tyson / Unsplash

European governments have implemented unprecedented tourism restrictions

The policy response has been swift and comprehensive. Barcelona announced the complete elimination of all 10,000 short-term rental licenses by 2028¹³, while Athens banned new short-term rental permits effective January 2025 in districts where rentals exceed 5% of housing stock. Amsterdam will ban cruise ships entirely by 2026¹⁴ and has implemented Europe's highest tourist tax at 12.5% of accommodation costs—meaning a €175/night hotel now incurs an additional €21.80 tax.

Tourist taxes have proliferated across the continent. Greece introduced a climate resilience tax ranging from €1.50 to €15 per night¹⁵ depending on accommodation quality, plus a €20 levy for cruise passengers visiting Mykonos and Santorini during peak months. Paris combines regional and tourist taxes reaching €15.60 per person per night for luxury accommodations, while Barcelona's city tax rose to €4 per person per night for 2025.

Venice expanded its controversial day-tripper fee to 54 days annually¹⁶, charging €5 for advance bookings and €10 for last-minute visitors during peak hours. The 2024 pilot phase generated €2.4 million despite initial protests. Portugal doubled Lisbon's tourist tax to €4 per person while the Azores implemented a new €2 nightly tax starting January 2025.

Attraction caps have become commonplace. Pompeii reduced daily visitors from over 4 million annually to just 20,000 daily, with further restrictions to 15,000 morning and 5,000 afternoon slots during peak season. Barcelona limited tour groups to maximum 15 people and plans to reduce cruise ship passenger numbers by 8% annually, while Santorini imposed a daily cruise visitor limit of 8,000 people with the €20 fee per passenger.

The European Union passed comprehensive "Airbnb Law" requiring platforms to share data with authorities monthly for large operators and quarterly for smaller ones¹⁷. This regulation includes random verification checks and gives cities unprecedented power to combat illegal rentals.

Tourism industry responses reveal both adaptation and resistance

Airbnb welcomed the EU regulations as providing "clear rules of the road"¹⁸ and published economic impact reports showing €149 billion in benefits across the EU in 2023, emphasizing that short-term rentals represent less than 0.5% of housing stock in major cities. The company has committed to enhanced data sharing and local compliance support.

The cruise industry, through CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), has invested heavily in green technologies¹⁹ with commitments to 40% carbon emission reduction by 2030 and shore power connectivity implementation in major ports. However, cruise lines face significant berthing restrictions with Barcelona banning ships from the central World Trade Center pier and Amsterdam reducing annual vessel calls from 2,300 to 1,150 by 2028.

Tourism operators express mixed reactions to these restrictions. While some hotel chains support measures that reduce Airbnb competition, concerns about administrative burden and guest satisfaction persist. The European Tourism Association (ETOA) opposes tourist taxes as "fiscal gap plugging"²⁰ rather than genuine sustainability measures, arguing they unfairly burden legitimate tourists while failing to address underlying issues.

For worldschooling families, the path forward requires intentional choices

The overtourism crisis presents both challenges and opportunities for long-term traveling families. Research reveals that authorities often view digital nomads and worldschoolers more favorably than mass tourists or day-trippers²¹, recognizing their extended stays contribute more meaningfully to local economies through diverse spending patterns beyond tourist zones.

Most tourist restrictions target cruise passengers, large tour groups, and short-stay visitors rather than families staying weeks or months in a location. Barcelona's ban on short-term rentals may actually benefit long-term renters by returning housing stock to the market, while destinations across Eastern Europe actively court digital nomad families. North Macedonia saw 417% growth in digital nomads²², while Spain's Extremadura region offers €15,000 incentives for remote workers willing to relocate to rural areas.

Alternative destinations provide opportunities for meaningful travel without contributing to overtourism. Romania, Slovenia, and rural Spain combat depopulation by welcoming remote working families. These regions offer authentic cultural experiences, lower costs, and the satisfaction of supporting communities that genuinely benefit from international visitors.

Sustainable tourism initiatives across Europe provide models for responsible travel. Switzerland's Swisstainable Strategy balances environmental goals with year-round tourism distribution²³, while Slovenia's Green Certification program preserves natural and cultural heritage through comprehensive sustainability standards. The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST) offers a practical framework for families seeking certified sustainable accommodations and experiences.

Practical strategies for responsible worldschooling emerge from the crisis

Long-term traveling families can adopt specific practices that distinguish them from problematic mass tourism. The "2-week minimum" rule for each location qualifies as slow travel and allows families to contribute meaningfully to local communities rather than extracting experiences without reciprocity.

Accommodation choices matter significantly. Seeking GSTC-certified properties, EU Ecolabel accommodations, or community-based tourism projects ensures your spending supports sustainability goals. Booking directly with local providers rather than large platforms keeps revenue in destination communities while often providing more authentic experiences for children's education.

Ground transportation over flights, shopping at local markets rather than tourist-oriented businesses, and engaging with local communities through genuine cultural exchange transform travel from consumption to collaboration. Many worldschooling families find volunteering opportunities—beach cleanups, English tutoring, or digital skills sharing—that create positive impact while providing rich learning experiences for children.

Educational integration can honor local communities. Using real-world experiences as primary curriculum, visiting cultural centers and historical sites for hands-on learning, and encouraging children to develop genuine relationships with local peers creates mutual benefit rather than one-sided tourism.

The future of European travel demands conscious choices

The 2025 overtourism protests represent more than temporary disruption—they signal a fundamental shift toward managed, sustainable tourism across Europe. The coordinated nature of these protests, from Barcelona to Venice to Lisbon, demonstrates that residents across the continent have reached their breaking point with the current tourism model.

For worldschooling families, this crisis offers an opportunity for leadership. By choosing alternative destinations, staying longer in fewer places, and prioritizing community benefit over convenience, we can model responsible global citizenship for our children while supporting destinations that genuinely welcome international visitors.

The statistics are sobering: 747 million annual arrivals across Europe, tourist-to-resident ratios reaching 19:1 in popular cities, and housing costs driven beyond local affordability. But the human stories behind these numbers—teachers sleeping in vans, residents unable to afford their neighborhoods, children developing asthma from cruise ship pollution—demand our attention and action.

European destinations implementing tourist caps, fees, and restrictions aren't anti-visitor—they're fighting for survival as living communities rather than theme parks. Our choice as long-term travelers is whether to be part of the problem or part of the solution. The overtourism crisis calls us to travel more thoughtfully, stay longer, spend locally, and ensure our global mobility contributes to rather than detracts from the communities that welcome us.

The water pistols in Barcelona weren't aimed at all tourists—they were symbols of desperation from residents who love their cities too much to watch them disappear. As worldschooling families, we have the privilege of choice in how and where we travel. The crisis demands we use that privilege responsibly.