In light of ongoing anti-tourism protests in Europe, particularly in Italy, Portugal, and Spain, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) issued the following statement dated 16th June:
Travel and tourism bring significant economic benefits, not just for large travel corporations, but for local businesses and small companies that supply them.
The sector creates employment and revenue from international and domestic visitors.
It should not be blamed for wider issues like housing shortages, which often have complex, deep-rooted causes beyond the sector’s influence.
Travel and tourism generate substantial tax revenues; governments must engage with communities to ensure these funds are reinvested to meet local needs like improved infrastructure.
WTTC supports responsible travel and tourism that benefits people and works with governments to help achieve it.
The case against overtourism
The WTTC's statement comes in the wake of protests throughout Southern Europe on Sunday, 15th June, wherein thousands of locals took to the streets to speak against the negative impact overtourism has had on their daily lives.
Protesters fired water pistols at shop windows and tourists, and those in Barcelona where the bulk of the protests took place set off smoke bombs.
Barcelona natives chanted slogans like "Your holidays, my misery"; "Mass tourism kills the city"; and "Their greed brings us ruin" in both Spanish and Catalan.
According to a report from Reuters, similar demonstrations were held throughout Spain, particularly in tourist hotspots Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca.
At the same time, protests were also held in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, as well as the Italian cities of Genoa, Milan, Naples, Palermo, and Venice.
Venetian protestors, in particular, adamantly opposed the construction of two hotels that will boost the local hospitality sector's capacity by around 1,500 beds.
