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Spanish residents take to streets against mass tourism

Mass Tourism - Level 0

People in Spain are angry about mass tourism. They have sprayed tourists with water guns. People are angry because rents are increasing. Companies are buying houses to rent to tourists. A spokesperson said: "The people who work in the tourism industry can't afford the rent in their own city."

Residents are complaining. Daily life is a problem. Buses and trains are full of tourists with backpacks. Towns cannot clean litter from their streets. It is difficult for locals to go to their favourite restaurants. Other countries have a problem with mass tourism. They want to help local people more.

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Mass Tourism - Level 1

People in Spain are protesting against mass tourism. They have sprayed tourists with water guns. In Mallorca, 10,000 people protested in the streets. People there are angry that rents and house prices are increasing. It is difficult for locals to buy a house. Companies are buying houses to rent to tourists. A spokesperson said: "The people who work in the tourism industry can't afford the rent in their own city." She said this has to change.

Residents in tourist areas are complaining. Many cannot find anywhere to live because rents are so high. Daily life is also a problem. Buses and trains are full of tourists with backpacks. Towns are having problems cleaning litter from streets. Local people are having problems going to their favourite restaurants. Spain is not the only country where tourism is a problem. Other countries want to find a balance between helping local people and tourists.

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Mass Tourism - Level 2

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Thousands of people in Spain are protesting against mass tourism. Residents have sprayed tourists with water guns. In Mallorca, 10,000 people took to the streets shouting: "Enough is enough." People there are angry that their rents are increasing. It is now very difficult for locals to buy a house. This is because of tourism. Property prices are very high because companies are buying them to rent to tourists. A tourism spokesperson said: "The people who work in the tourism industry can't afford the rent in their own city." She said this is unsustainable and things have to change.

Residents in tourist areas have many complaints. Many can no longer find somewhere to live. Some have to move house because landlords are increasing rents. Daily life is also becoming a problem. Buses and trains are full of tourists with backpacks. Towns are having problems keeping their streets clean of litter. Local people also have problems eating at their favourite restaurants because of tourists. Spain is not the only country where tourism is a problem. Japan, Austria and Mexico also have problems. They want to find a balance between helping local people and tourists.

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Mass Tourism - Level 3

Thousands of people in Spain are protesting against mass tourism. In Barcelona, residents have sprayed tourists in restaurants with water guns. On the island of Mallorca, 10,000 people took to the streets holding banners that read: "Enough is enough!" and "Mallorca is not for sale." People in Mallorca are angry that their rents are increasing. It is becoming almost impossible for locals to buy a house because of tourism. Property prices are sky-high because companies are buying them to rent to tourists. A spokesperson for Airbnb said: "The people who work in the tourism industry can't afford the rent in their own city." She added: "We believe that basing the economy…on…tourism is unsustainable and has to change."

Residents in tourist areas have many complaints. They say tourism has a negative effect on their lives. Many can no longer find somewhere to live. Some have to move out of their homes because landlords are increasing rents. Daily life is also becoming a problem. Buses and trains are full of tourists with backpacks and suitcases. Towns are having problems keeping their streets clean. This is because of increasing litter. Local people also complain that they cannot eat at their favourite restaurants because of tourists. Spain is not the only country where tourism is becoming a problem. Japan, Austria and Mexico have acted to find a balance between helping local people and sustainable tourism.

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