Anti-tourist sentiment across Europe; Next to Canada?

 

Anti-tourist sentiment has been on the rise in many parts of Europe recently. Experts have warned that the latest protests will have ripple effects around the world. In Europe, the protests started in Spain. Spanish protesters are calling for a more balanced approach to the tourism sector. Protesters argue that tourism has contributed to the country's housing crisis. Protests are flaring up from Barcelona to Mallorca. Peter DeBrien, senior project officer for sustainable tourism at UNESCO, says the protests are expected to spread across Europe.

In recent months, thousands of people in Spain have been protesting against tourism in Malaga, Mallorca, Gran Canaria, Granada and Barcelona. People gathered from the most famous places in Spain, which is ranked as the second most visited country in the world. They speak out against the tourist invasion, saying it has made their cities unlivable.

Experts report that protests in Europe may spread to Canada. Officials are worried about the scale of such protests. Tourism industry representatives hope that these sentiments will not affect the livelihoods of Canadians. According to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), domestic and international tourism contributes about 1.6 percent of Canada's total GDP ($42.7 billion) and employs more than two million people annually.