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Since April 2024, locals in Spain have been protesting the problem of overtourism in the country - particularly in mainland cities like Barcelona and Malaga, as well as some of the more popular islands like the Canaries and Majorca.

The protests continued once again in 2025 as the touristseason started, with residents claiming their cities are being hollowed out by soaring rents, vanishing housing, and the relentless rise of short-term lets. This lead to several demonstrations in major tourist hotspots, such as Alicante and Barcelona.Some locals were also spotted shouting at tourists and even spraying them with water guns.

This has lead to a decline in tourists visiting Spain -but people have now started recording the empty streets of previously bustling cities and tourist areas, including central Barcelona.

British woman Laura, who has lived in Spain for two and a half years, took to social media to share clips of the deserted city.

"Day one of recording how quiet Barcelona is now the tourists don't feel welcome. The businesses must be feeling it," she wrote on her video.

Laura said the area is El Born in central Barcelona, explaining that the video in question had been filmed at 2pm on Wednesday, 13 August.

The area is often described to be one of the more 'trendy' areas of the large city. It is home to narrow medieval streets offering designer boutiques, the famous Picasso museum and cafes by day.

It turns into a fun place for cocktail bars and samba dancing at night, which made the area popular at all hours of the day.

However, it's looking a lot less crowded following all the protests. Laura went on to show the empty street below, which looked to be filled with different shops, cafes, and restaurants.

However, only ten people in total were spotted walking around on the large street. What's more, restaurant dining tables were largely empty despite the clip being taken around lunchtime.

Laura went on to share more videos throughout the day, including at 5pm and 9pm, when the streets are usually filled with locals and tourists alike.

Issuing her final verdict, she said: "The streets are so quiet now. These businesses last year used to wake me up in the morning. One has just recently been renovated."

Several people quickly took to the comment section of the video to share their thoughts on the matter. While some were very concerned by the video, others thought it wasn't a big deal.

One person commented: "Girl, it's quiet because it's 2pm."

However, Laura replied: "Thats even worse if they are not in work and also not supporting there local businesses what the locals were filling up so much. This city doesn't stop. They will work all day and alternate shifts."

Another person pointed out: "The way their economy is gonna crash all because of hatred." And to this, someone else said: "The way they will be able to afford their own city again after that happens."

A third person said: "To be honest, Barcelona residents have a right to be mad and I understand their frustration, but it's focused at the wrong people.

"Airbnb and the government are the culprits. Tourism is important in every economy, there just has to be regulation on the capitalists who exploit it for profit at the cost of the local population."

Meanwhile, another added: "I wont go to Spain until I feel I will be welcome. The protests really put me off."