Dear MEL Topic Readers,
'We are in danger' - Spanish anti-tourism spills into winter season
Spain lies in the Iberian Peninsula and includes the Canary Islands in
the Mediterranean Sea. With the sunny Mediterranean climate, glistering beaches,
historical monuments, and palatable foods and wines, the country receives nearly
100 million tourists this year, about twice the size of its population. Indeed,
tourism in Spain contributes about 13% of its GDP. However, the tourism recovery
after the coronavirus pandemic has been so drastic that residents of popular
tourist destinations have staged protests against overtourism. For example,
tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Madrid last month demanding more
affordable housing amid rising rental prices as Airbnb and Booking.com dominate
the short-term rental market. Also, thousands of protesters in popular tourist
destinations like San Sebastian, Seville, and the Canary Islands are complaining
that over-tourism has put too much pressure on their lives, including soaring rental
prices, overcrowded public spaces and transportation, and distorted harmony of their
communities. Balancing the harmony of businesses, cultures, and daily lives
seems like another challenge after the pandemic. What will the new
international airports do to the lives in Greenland? (Vol.4575)
Read the article and learn about Spain’s over tourism.
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