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A Spanish protest group has announced protest action this summer. (Image: Getty)
UK holidaymakers looking to soak up the sun in Spain this summer have been warned about upcoming overtourism protests. Activist groups across Spain and southern Europe are bracing for what's being described as "an unprecedented mobilisation" on June 15. The action is expected to impact hotspots such as the Canary Islands - Lanzarote and Tenerife, along with Barcelona and Majorca in the Balearics.
The Southern European Network Against Touristisation (SET) confirmed the plans for the coordinated protests at a recent assembly. Margalida Ramis from the environmental group GOB emphasised the pressing need to cap tourism growth and bring socio-economic change.
British tourists are rethinking their holidays to Spain. (Image: Getty)
Protester Elena Boschi said she wanted to scare visitors in order to bring change. She explained: "We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation; without fear, there is no change."
However, Daniel Pardo, one of the protest leaders, conceded that the activists have "no one set strategy" for the imminent rallies.
An anonymous member of the group said tourism is negatively impacting locals' quality of life.
They added: "We are not against tourists, but what we don't welcome is a way of being in our cities and regions that turns it into a place that is no longer nice to live in for us."
British holidaymakers have been quick to rethink their summer plans ahead of the demonstrations, with many saying they will avoid mainland Spain and its islands.
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One said: "I see their point, but I don't rent a property, I use hotels. But I'm not going to stay in a hotel in Spain after this year, I'm taking my accommodation with me so they can't whinge about that."
Another added: "I agree with them to a certain extent. It's the people who buy up residential houses like they do here and in Cornwall and Wales so locals have nowhere to live. Holiday makers who stay in hotels are providing a living for locals and they know that."
A third chimed in: "Their own governments and councils like those here need to stop the buying up of residential properties by greedy developers and stop the stag and hen parties.
"There is no need to target all tourists, that's just bullying and aggression encouraged by the TikTok mob."
Expressing frustration, another person remarked: "Spent a fortune in Tenerife over the years. Not anymore."
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