Home » Austria Travel News » France Joins Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and Austria as Furious New Overtourism Protest Sweeps Across Borders: Travel Update You Need to Know
Published on
August 21, 2025
By: Rana Pratap
France now joined with Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and Austria in electrifying new demonstrations, as residents articulate how rising visitation, explosive housing costs, and the disappearance of authentic local culture have compelled neighborhoods to the edge. Long the world’s foremost destination, and therefore once seemingly impervious to dissent, France has witnessed the contraction of the tolerance frontier, with even the capital, while still ringing with its tourist identity, joining the mounting repudiation. Visitor flows have risen geometrically until, by 2025, the threshold of mutually beneficial coexistence has been decisively breached. Across metropolitan to rural borders, local assemblies have recited the same calibrated, yet piercing, refrain: the moment of endurance has collapsed.
Touristic intensity has become acute. Timeless avenues now pulse with an incessant mass. The rental sphere, traumatized by the proliferation of on-demand platforms, now embodies the antithesis of resident economy. Cruise vessels, once episodic attractions, now dissect centuries-old megastructures with unwavering routine. The artifice of transient consumption is methodically substituting authentic urban daily rhythm. The aggregate of these stresses has forged a singular alliance, now manifest in expansive marches against an afflicted and hyper-commercialized version of hospitality, a situation citizens unmistakably descry as a hospitality crisis. The movement’s scope is likely to migrate across every European nation.
This latest surge of protests epitomizes the growing conflict between record-setting visitor numbers and the vanishing quality of everyday life. Montmartre residents vent their grievances inside cracked tourist paths while demonstrators surge in the shadow of la Gioconda; simultaneous marches in Barcelona and Palma fill streets to their limits; stencil-wielding activists in Lisbon transform elevated miradour tram stops into vote-authenticated plea spots; canalside residences and alley hotels in Venice erupt together. In Bruges, local voices extend urgent petitions inside the cobblestoned core and in Hallstatt residents disrupt entrances with human concentric rings to impede oversized buses; protests in Mexico City’s Chapultepec and silken beaches of Tulum vibrate in solidarity. The republic comprises a collectively loud chorus.
Amid the recent wave of overtourism demonstrations across France, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and Austria, the travel sector must confront fundamental dilemmas. Is it still possible to curb overtourism before the unrest escalates? Can governments encourage further growth of the sector while safeguarding housing security, protecting essential services, and preserving community cohesion? The scale and tenacity of the demonstrations across the region reveal that residents will no longer remain passive. France’s addition to the list of hotspots signals that by 2025 tourism will confront intensified pressures, sharply defined boundaries, and an unmistakable push for systemic reform across both consumer practices and governmental policies.
The Growing Storm of Overtourism in 2025
Overtourism is no longer a silent issue. It is exploding into the streets. France has now joined Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Austria, and Mexico in seeing furious protests. The message is sharp. Residents are demanding limits on crowds, stricter rules on rentals, and stronger protection of local housing. This wave of anger is shaking the tourism industry. It raises an urgent question. Can cities keep welcoming millions of visitors without destroying the lives of their people?
France Struggles Under Visitor Overload
Paris. France remains a symbol of romance and culture, but the weight of tourism is visible. Montmartre, once a village-like district, now feels like a theme park. The Sacré-Cœur Basilica attracts around 11 million visitors a year, outnumbering even the Eiffel Tower. Streets are clogged with tuk-tuks and tourist queues. Grocery shops, butchers, and bakeries have been replaced by souvenir stands and bubble tea stalls.
The protests are strong and emotional. Residents hang banners reading messages of resistance against city authorities. For many, the biggest concern is the loss of liveability. Those with mobility issues are most affected, as pedestrian-only rules make it harder to access their homes. At the Louvre, staff staged a surprise strike in June 2025, forcing a temporary closure and leaving thousands stranded outside. The strike highlighted how badly overstretched tourism infrastructure has become.
France – Paris Pushes Back in 2025
- Montmartre residents staged balcony protests in 2025, hanging banners denouncing “Disneyfication.”
- Locals complained that essential shops such as bakeries and grocers were replaced by tourist stalls.
- The Sacré-Cœur Basilica drew around 11 million annual visitors, creating intense crowding.
- In June 2025, staff at the Louvre Museum staged a wildcat strike over chronic overcrowding and unsafe working conditions.
Mexico City’s Fight Against Gentrification
In July 2025, Mexico City erupted with protests against overtourism. Demonstrations focused on the Roma and Condesa districts, where locals blame tourism and short-term rentals for soaring rents. Residents marched with signs demanding stronger protections. Some blocked roads, creating major disruptions.
The protests here connect overtourism to gentrification. Locals argue that platforms offering tourist rentals are forcing families out of central areas. The anger is also about fairness, as tourism profits are concentrated while residents lose housing. Similar protests have emerged in Tulum, where beach access and hotel expansion are under fire. For Mexico, the protests highlight that overtourism is not just European. It is now a continental issue.
Mexico – Mexico City Demonstrations in July 2025
- Mexico City witnessed major overtourism and anti-gentrification protests in July 2025.
- On 4 July 2025, demonstrations began in the Roma and Condesa neighbourhoods against rising rents and tourist rentals.
- On 20 July 2025, protests spread to the Tlalpan borough, with residents calling for stronger housing protections.
- On 26 July 2025, large groups gathered between the Juárez Hemicycle and the U.S. Embassy on Paseo de la Reforma. Graffiti and anti-foreigner slogans were reported.
- Similar smaller protests were also recorded in Tulum, where residents opposed beach privatisation and hotel development.
Spain Faces Protests with Water Pistols and Marches
Spain has been at the centre of overtourism fury. Barcelona is the most visible example. In July 2025, residents marched in the streets armed with water pistols, spraying tourists to make a bold point. Protesters plastered hotels with stickers and shouted demands for limits on cruise ships and tourist rentals.
The Canary Islands saw thousands of residents join similar marches in May 2025. The movement there focused on the slogan “Canaries have a limit.” Residents said resources like housing and water are overstretched, and the explosion of short-term rentals has made rent unaffordable. The Spanish courts recently supported Barcelona’s move to ban all tourist apartments by 2028, giving legal weight to local demands. These protests are reshaping the country’s entire tourism framework.
Spain – Mass Protests Sweep Cities in 2024 and 2025
- On 15 June 2025, coordinated anti-tourism marches took place in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Granada, Ibiza, and San Sebastián.
- In Barcelona, protesters used water pistols on tourists and covered hotels with stickers demanding limits on cruise ships and short-term rentals.
- Palma de Mallorca saw a massive protest on 21 July 2024 with around 50,000 participants calling for limits on flights and cruises.
- In July 2024, Barcelona residents marched with 3,000 protesters sealing hotel doors and spraying visitors with water guns.
- The Canary Islands saw repeated protests in 2024 and again in May 2025, with thousands marching under the slogan “Canaries have a limit.”
Portugal Joins the Southern Europe Pushback
Lisbon added its voice to the growing wave of demonstrations in June 2025. Residents gathered in historic neighbourhoods calling for stricter rules on short-term rentals. They argued that rents are rising too quickly and neighbourhood culture is being erased.
Portugal has thrived on its reputation as a welcoming and affordable destination. But locals now say the price of success is too high. They complain that their lives are dominated by constant tourist traffic. Lisbon’s protests align with movements in Spain and Italy, showing that overtourism has become a Southern European crisis.
Portugal – Lisbon Demonstrations in June 2025
- In June 2025, Lisbon joined coordinated Southern Europe protests against overtourism.
- Demonstrations were centred in historic districts where residents demanded tighter controls on short-term rentals.
- Protesters argued that rising rents and constant tourist flows were erasing neighbourhood life.
- The marches aligned with those in Spain and Italy, highlighting a regional crisis.
Italy Expands Venice Day-Tripper Charges
Venice has long been a symbol of overtourism. In 2025, the city introduced new measures to handle its millions of visitors. Authorities expanded the day-tripper fee to cover 54 peak days. Visitors now need to pay between €5 and €10 and carry a QR code to show proof. Spot checks are frequent, and fines are issued to those without evidence of payment.
Despite this, residents argue it is not enough. Protests have returned, fuelled by anger over cruise ship traffic, shrinking housing options, and the loss of community life. Streets remain full even with the new rules. For Venetians, the protests are about preserving the city as a home, not just a postcard attraction.
Italy – Venice Anger Returns in 2025
- On 15 June 2025, Venice saw new protests as part of Southern Europe’s coordinated marches.
- Residents called for halts to new hotel construction and tighter limits on cruise ship arrivals.
- Protests occurred despite the city expanding its day-tripper access fee in 2025 to 54 peak days with charges of €5–€10.
- Anger focused on overcrowding, housing pressure, and fears Venice is becoming an “open-air museum.”
Belgium Pushes Back in Bruges
Bruges, the picturesque medieval city, has joined the overtourism pushback. Residents are frustrated with the endless flow of day-trippers who crowd the cobbled streets and spend little locally. Proposals for a €4 day-visitor tax by 2027 are gaining traction. Campaigns also call for tougher limits on new hotels and rentals.
The protests here are quieter than in Spain or France, but the anger is just as deep. Locals say their city risks losing its soul if current trends continue. Bruges is now an important example of how smaller destinations face overtourism alongside larger capitals.
Belgium – Bruges Resident Pushback in 2025
- In 2025, Bruges residents stepped up campaigns against day-trippers.
- Calls grew for a €4 day-visitor tax to be introduced by 2027 to reduce crowding.
- Campaigns also pressed for stricter controls on short-term rentals and limits on new hotel development in the old town.
- While large street protests were not recorded, civic pressure and resident campaigns dominated the debate.
Austria’s Tiny Hallstatt at Breaking Point
Hallstatt is a small Alpine village with fewer than a thousand residents, but it faces millions of annual visitors. Inspired by its fairy-tale charm and Disney’s Frozen, tourists flood in for day trips and photos. In response, residents have staged road blockades, demanding daily visitor caps and controls on bus arrivals.
For Hallstatt, the protests symbolise the struggle of small towns facing international fame. Tourism has boosted the local economy, but residents argue it has destroyed peace. This small village has become a big lesson in how rural communities are not safe from overtourism pressures.
Austria – Hallstatt Road Blockades 2023–2024
- Hallstatt, a small Alpine village of under 1,000 residents, faced millions of annual visitors.
- In 2023 and 2024, locals staged road blockades to stop tourist buses entering the village.
- Protests demanded caps on daily visitor numbers and stricter regulation of bus arrivals.
- The village became a symbol of how rural destinations can be overwhelmed by mass tourism and social media fame.
Why Overtourism Protests Are Spreading
The protests share three main causes. The first is housing stress. Short-term rentals have removed homes from local markets, driving rents sky-high. Cities like Barcelona and Mexico City show this problem clearly.
The second is landmark overcrowding. Sacré-Cœur in Paris attracts 11 million visitors, while Venice sees more day-trippers than residents. Historic neighbourhoods feel like stage sets rather than living spaces.
The third is the rise of day-tripper and cruise waves. These bring large numbers at once, overwhelm local services, and leave little money behind. Residents see the imbalance and call for change.
New Rules Aim to Restore Balance
Cities are responding with new rules. Paris is tightening controls on unlicensed rentals. Barcelona is banning tourist apartments within three years. Venice is charging for peak-day entries. Bruges is preparing a visitor tax. Mexico City is drafting stronger housing protections.
These rules aim to manage the flow rather than block visitors outright. The goal is to spread tourism across time and space, charge more during peak hours, and protect local housing from exploitation. The protests are making these changes urgent, and governments are now acting faster.
How Travellers Can Avoid Adding Pressure
Travellers can also reduce the strain. Booking licensed rentals or hotels helps protect housing. Staying longer instead of day-tripping brings more economic value and less congestion. Visiting in off-seasons lowers pressure on infrastructure.
Tourists should also avoid joining demonstrations, especially in Mexico, where foreigners risk detention if they participate. Respecting local rules and being mindful of where and when to travel makes a big difference. The future of tourism depends not just on governments but also on responsible choices by visitors.
The Outlook for 2026 and Beyond
Looking ahead, overtourism protests will not slow down. If anything, they will expand to more cities and towns. Authorities will continue to test entry fees, visitor caps, and tougher housing rules. Airlines, hotels, and tour operators will need to adjust strategies. The industry must adapt to a new reality where local voices are louder.
The protests show that communities are ready to fight for liveable spaces. For the travel industry, this is a wake-up call. Sustainable and fair tourism is no longer optional. It is essential for survival.
France joins Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and Austria in furious new overtourism protests because residents say soaring crowds, rising rents, and vanishing local life have pushed communities to breaking point.
The furious overtourism protests of 2025 have changed the travel conversation. France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Austria, and Mexico are all telling the same story. Tourism brings wealth, but unchecked growth brings anger. The protests are not a rejection of visitors. They are a demand for respect and balance.
For travellers, this is a reminder to be conscious and responsible. For cities, it is a signal that rules must be enforced. For the industry, it is a challenge to adapt before backlash grows stronger. The future of tourism will be shaped not only by where people want to go, but also by where residents say enough is enough.
