This hot European summer, anti-tourism protests have made headlines, from Barcelona to Venice, Mallorca and the Canary Islands. The unrest is not confined to Europe, though.
In Mexico City on Friday, peaceful protests against overtourism and gentrification by foreign “digital nomads” turned violent, with a small group of protesters smashing storefront windows and ransacking stores.
Earlier this year, Japan’s tourism board urged Australians to swap Tokyo and Kyoto (where tourists have been accused of harassing geishas) for less-travelled destinations. Tourists have been criticised for behaving badly in Antarctica and Bali (where tourism accounts for 60–70% of its gross domestic product), too.
