Spain update - Barcelona apologises to tourists

Beyond the economical impact of harassing innocent tourists with water guns I think it is really rude, intrusive and does not solve anything. These people who always find something to protest about should go and harass local politicians a bit. Truth is that Barcelona is awfully crammed but squirting tourists is obnoxious. Some might say it is harmless and playful but I would get angry for the lack of respect and some Spanish tourists in the city might not be as coy as foreign tourists, if I know my fellow Spaniards' hot temper and rough manners when tickled on the wrong spot and time.

People have paid good money to holiday in Barcelona etc. Firing water /abuse at tourists is totally unacceptable. If they want to make a change, speak to the politicians NOT harass the tourists!!! Spain is a service industry and thrives more than ever on its tourism industry- talk about shooting yourself in the foot... 😶🙄😶

I'll never go to Spain again. Too many other countries around the world that want us there.

Barcelona, i went once 15 yrs ago, apart from sagrada i thought it was horrible with grafitti and a very unsafe vibe. Madrid is full of culture and safer, but most of places in Andalucia are superb in comparison

A lot of Barcelona and Spains economy benefitted from countless thousands of tourists. Disgraceful way to treat totally innocent visitors.

Tourism is fixated on Barcelona. Spain is a fantastically beautiful and varied country. If Barcelona has a problem with tourists just go elsewhere in Spain. Let them keep their constant whining, graffiti and pickpocketing "culture" for themselves.

I have a chain of hair salons in Barcelona. If the working week is reduced and I had to pay 12 extra days holiday a year we would need to let staff go. We couldn't afford it. So by trying to help employees they might actually cause more unemployment. And what is going on with anti tourism in the city is disgusting. Catalans love to travel and we are all tourists at some point. Tourists flats are way less than 1% of the city's housing, this is not the reason for high rents. The city needs the tourists.

I must admit it puts me off going to Barcelona and any of these places. I don't blame the locals but I just don't want the grief and will leave them to it.

I felt really sad Stu to see those innocent tourists sprayed with water x it’s so degrading and they graciously got up and walked away without retaliation x surely this is assault? We enjoy your news x than you

We went to Barcelona in 2023 and the hotel staff was cold at two places, cab drivers weren't nice and I struggled to get a ticket (La Sagrada Familia) on the church website. After telling a staff person 3 times (my credit card was protecting my account) I couldn't do it she let me use a kiosk while other tourists were struggling on their smartphones - they were closing in one hour. There was one kind lady at the Mercat dels Encants, a 700-year-old flea market - she was the kindest person during our visit. We're never going back to Spain.

If native Londoners sprayed water over Spanish tourists they would instantly be called racists and prosecuted. If Spain genuinely doesn’t want tourism then stop flights etc. I wonder what all the workers would do when bars and restaurants close down? Would they be able to afford housing then. We have the same in our cities, hence why people commute in. Be careful what you wish for Spaniards.

Some Spaniards have short memories, I went to Gran Canaria just after Covid and some people did not have a days work in 18 months.

no tourist no income no homes for locals only migrants.

I know 3 different families who have had holidays in Spain this year and all say never again. During the champions league final in London a few months ago you were all welcomed with open arms. It’s a sad state that Spain has slipped into a vindictive backward mess.

It should apologise to the rest of Spain while it's at it

The biggest "Demonstration" from the protestors in Barcelona was actually that of the quality of the education received in the city. Are they actually blaming the tourists for bad tourism policies? I grew up in a tourist area, and was priced out by the time I turned 18. I moved to the San Francisco Bay area to be able to afford to live better, and that's saying a lot. That being said, I never blamed the tourists or those that bought up all the houses for themselves, but then again, I'm not a moron.

The problem is the people squirting water the recipients don’t know it’s water , the police should fine them all what ever there cause maybe ! 😡

They're only apologizing because it will affect tourism who are the ones that put most of money into their city.If they think Barcelona is overcrowded they should take their anger out on the cruise companies not tourists.

I have been going to barcelona for many years, i really felt the change in barcelona when i was there a few weeks ago. Spraying people with water while having their dinner is disgusting, everyone should avoid barcelona, leave it with them. Spend your hard earned money where you will be appreciated. Hopefully their economy will go under when people stop going

It’s an aggressive act. How are the targets to know if it’s an acid attack. Heinous.