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STRIFE'S A BEACH

Dozens of protesters storm Barcelona beach popular with Brits to reclaim it from drunken louts in rally slamming tourism

Crowds stormed the sand to highlight their upset over party-seeking foreigners driving up rent and house prices

FURIOUS protesters of stormed a beach in Barcelona to "reclaim" it from tourists - as visitors napped nearby.

Crowds surged on to the sand to highlight their upset over party-seeking foreigners driving up rent and house prices, while bringing a spike in rowdy behaviour.

Barcelona residents take part in a protest against mass tourism in the Spanish city
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Barcelona residents take part in a protest against mass tourism in the Spanish cityCredit: Reuters
A large group of people in yellow T-shirts formed a human chain at the water's edge
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A large group of people in yellow T-shirts formed a human chain at the water's edgeCredit: AFP or licensors
They held arms and prevented people from getting in the water at a section of beach
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They held arms and prevented people from getting in the water at a section of beachCredit: AP:Associated Press
They held signs and pitched banners in the sand as nearby tourists sunbathed
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They held signs and pitched banners in the sand as nearby tourists sunbathedCredit: Reuters
The were protesting against mass tourism which they say has increased rent prices and made locals move out of the centre
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The were protesting against mass tourism which they say has increased rent prices and made locals move out of the centreCredit: AFP or licensors
They also protested over a rise in drunken behaviour as a man sleeps nearby the protest
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They also protested over a rise in drunken behaviour as a man sleeps nearby the protestCredit: AP:Associated Press

Today they argued longtime residents have been driven out of the city centre, as they held banners declaring "this is not a beach resort" near napping visitors.

Many of the protesters from the city's waterfront neighbourhood of Barceloneta wore yellow T-shirts bearing the slogan "Barceloneta isn't for sale" in Catalan.

Some staked homemade signs in the sand, including a large one that read in English "We Don't Want Tourists In Our Buildings. This Is Not A Beach Resort."

They even linked arms and stood at the water's edge, creating a human barrier to the sea.

As Barcelona hits its peak tourist season this month, its beach has become overrun by sunbathers - infuriating locals who say "we deserve to rest".

One man remained asleep on a towel while Saturday's protesters rallied just a few metres away.

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The protest was organised by a local residents' group.

Barcelona's town hall has responded to the tourist influx by trying to curb the growth of apartments that rented to tourists via on-line platforms like Airbnb.

Tension regarding the effects of tourism on the quality of life for locals has helped lead to an outbreak in vandalism against mass tourism in Barcelona and other parts of Spain.

Radical leftists groups have stopped a sight-seeing bus tour, sabotaged rental bikes often used by tourists, and painted graffiti messages of "Tourist Go Home" on buildings across the city.

They argued longtime residents have been driven out of the city centre, as they held banners declaring 'this is not a beach resort'
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They argued longtime residents have been driven out of the city centre, as they held banners declaring 'this is not a beach resort'Credit: Reuters
The residents of the district in Barcelona have become angry over tourism and the rise in rent in recent years
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The residents of the district in Barcelona have become angry over tourism and the rise in rent in recent yearsCredit: AFP or licensors
Tourists continued their day in the sunshine as the protest carried on around them
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Tourists continued their day in the sunshine as the protest carried on around themCredit: Getty - Contributor
An activist dressed a T-shirt with the slogan 'tourism kill the neighbourhoods'
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An activist dressed a T-shirt with the slogan 'tourism kill the neighbourhoods'Credit: Getty - Contributor
The Barcelona's neighbourhood group today protested against mass tourism
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The Barcelona's neighbourhood group today protested against mass tourismCredit: Getty - Contributor
One woman was pictured holding a sign declaring her love for the Spanish city
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One woman was pictured holding a sign declaring her love for the Spanish cityCredit: AP:Associated Press
A protester's sign said 'this is not a beach resort' as sun-seeking tourists continued their day on the beach
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A protester's sign said 'this is not a beach resort' as sun-seeking tourists continued their day on the beachCredit: AP:Associated Press
The group of protesters wore yellow T-shirts as they bandied together to speak out over the tourism industry
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The group of protesters wore yellow T-shirts as they bandied together to speak out over the tourism industryCredit: AP:Associated Press
The residents claim that the influx of tourists has increased the price of rents and produced a spike in rowdy behaviour by party-seeking foreigners
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The residents claim that the influx of tourists has increased the price of rents and produced a spike in rowdy behaviour by party-seeking foreignersCredit: AP:Associated Press
A protest-placard on La Barceloneta beach during a demonstration against 'drunken tourism'
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A protest-placard on La Barceloneta beach during a demonstration against 'drunken tourism'Credit: AFP or licensors

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has criticised far-left groups, saying their protest against a tourism sector that accounts of 11 percent of the country's gross domestic product was "senseless."

"I never imagined I would have to defend the tourism sector. This truly is something unheard of," Rajoy told a business meeting of a large hotel chain on Wednesday.

Lured by its mix of sunny weather, Mediterranean cuisine and culture, as well as affordable prices, Spain, a country of 46 million, received 75.3 million tourists in 2016.

More are expected for this year, after the number of arriving tourists increased by 12 percent in the first six months.

In nearby Magaluf there has been record numbers of wild Brits heading there to party  – despite a clampdown on its outrageous sex and drug fuelled reputation.

While local tourist bosses vow to scrub clean its seedy image, it looks like party animals just can’t get enough of the resort they love to call “Shagaluf.”

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