The recent protests in Barcelona against overtourism drew attention to the negative impacts of tourism on local residents, including inflated living costs and unequal distribution of revenue. As one of the world's most visited cities, Barcelona faced a backlash from residents who feel their city is being overrun by tourists, leading to tensions and frustrations.

The use of water guns by some protesters during the demonstrations was a spontaneous action not endorsed by the organizers, meant to symbolically disrupt the comfort of tourists and draw attention to the seriousness of the issue. While the protests in Barcelona highlighted the immediate concerns of residents, the discontent with overtourism is a global phenomenon, with other tourist-heavy destinations like Venice, Japan, Greece, and Italy also taking steps to manage and limit tourist influxes.

Experts in urban tourism emphasize the importance of sustainable tourism development and managing tourist flows effectively to avoid overwhelming popular sites. Suggestions include implementing technology to provide real-time data to tourists, enabling them to navigate around crowded areas, and deciding on the carrying capacity of attractions to prevent overtourism. However, the issue of overtourism also raises questions about domestic tourism and whether restricting international visitors will effectively address the problem.