Tourists warned to 'go home' as they're greeted by graffiti in popular Spanish city

A traveller who recently returned from Barcelona has recounted her unwelcoming reception in the Spanish city.

Known for its vibrant culture, boasting a delectable cuisine, breathtaking architecture, and a rich sporting history, Barcelona remains a dream destination for many globetrotters.

Yet, the city's inhabitants are showing signs of fatigue with tourist numbers surpassing 26 million annually, while the local population stands at just 1.6 million.

Barri, a travel writer who runs the @Worktravelbalance TikTok account, shared her story with her 10,000 followers, noting that she was drawn to the Catalan capital for its reputed "happy vibe".

Contrary to expectations, she encountered numerous 'tourists go home' graffiti messages. "Everywhere you look, everywhere you go...there's a tourists go home sign," she remarked.

The anti-tourist sentiment, as evidenced by the graffiti, likely stems from protests last summer, which at one point drew a crowd of more 3,000 residents. These protests led to actions such as squirting water pistols at visitors, taping hotel doors shut, and waving 'tourists go home' signs at holidaymakers.

Despite their best efforts, it looks like the the locals' actions may have been in vain. Spain's National Statistics Institute says tourist numbers are up, with a report released on January 3 revealing Spain welcomed 5.7 million international visitors in November – a notable 10.3% increase on the same month the previous year.

"In the first 11 months of 2024, the number of international tourists arriving in Spain reached its highest figure, exceeding 88.5 million," it confirmed.

Anti-tourism campaigners attribute their growing dissatisfaction to the sharp climb in housing costs, flagging a roughly 20%