Spanish Loops podcast

S3, Ep : 2. From Selfies to Spray Guns: Spain’s Tourism Backlash.

8/20/2025
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Hola! It’s Jorge and Fran from Spanish Loops, sneaking again into your earbuds like a surprise tapas plate at midnight: witty, chilled, and absolutely unmissable. We’ve got a killer episode lined up.

This global anti tourism wave that is crossing Europe.

And about Spain, especially in the sunny but mad Catalonia and the Canary Islands. Think less of a vacay checklist and more locals saying, “Wow, who invited all these selfies?”

Picture this: water pistol armed residents chasing off tourist hordes like it’s some kind of benign, spray and dash flash mob…, pure surreal vibes. It’s less “here’s your sangria” and more here’s a sticker that reads “Mass tourism kills the city.” You’ve got Catalans and Canarians basically sending a warm but firm “not now, thanks” to cruise ship style visitor overload.

And get this, locals are trending “touristification sucks” in real life. They’re saying: “Don’t hate the traveler, hate the structure that’s turned our streets into themed park backdrops.”

Its activism turned into playful theatre, with flares, banners, and cardboard cruise ships parading down Venetian alleys like some post-tourism performance art.

So, if your next scroll is on Instagram or YouTube, stick with us. This episode is equal parts cheeky roast and heartfelt plea for sustainable, cultural and respecting travel. Hit that follow tab for more jokes, espresso shots, and maybe a water pistol sighting or two.

“¡Vámonos!”

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