Overtourism: Which Countries Are Becoming Intolerant to Guests?

Amid a tourism boom across Europe, tensions are rising among local residents. Where is their resistance strongest? Tourism remains a crucial source of income for many EU countries, but it increasingly breeds discontent among local communities: they complain about a lack of housing and rising prices.

According to a new study by the digital entertainment platform JB.com, Spain, Italy, and France top the list of European countries where resistance to overtourism is most pronounced. Latvia is not considered - we are at least hoping for crumbs from their table.

Official statistics partially explain the situation: in the first four months of 2026, the number of tourists in Spain increased by 3.4%, and in June, the country expects a 7.1% increase in the number of international flight passengers compared to last year.

The press release from the Spanish Ministry of Tourism notes that June is also expected to see an increase in tourist flow in Italy and France - by 12% and 2.6% respectively compared to the same period in 2025.

In contrast, Cyprus and Albania have been recognized by JB.com as the most welcoming countries for tourists in Europe: there have been no recorded protests against guests and minimal regulatory pressure on travelers.

The study analyzed the intensity of protests, media attention to them, tourist tax rates, and the ratio of guests to permanent residents in 30 countries around the world.

Spaniards at the Breaking Point

Spain, ranked first among the 30 analyzed countries, has registered protests against tourism in over 40 cities across the country - from Barcelona to the Canary Islands.

Catalonia, for example, welcomed about 20.1 million tourists in 2025 - a 0.6% increase compared to 2024. The Balearic and Canary Islands followed closely in popularity.

In June of last year, demonstrators marched through the center of Barcelona with protest signs and sprayed people with water guns in popular tourist spots.

Following Spain is Italy. Among the protesting cities are Venice, Rome, Florence, Naples, and Milan. Some activists were dismantling lockboxes, in which owners of short-term rental properties leave keys for clients... In an effort to curb excessive tourism, the authorities in Venice have reintroduced a fee for day visitors to the city on certain days from Friday to Sunday during the summer period.

Meanwhile, in France, protests were held across the country in Marseille, Nice, and Paris, where a movement against cruise ships is also gaining momentum, indicating active resistance from residents in both major cities and coastal tourist areas.