anti tourist graffiti

The surge in property prices is being attributed to the proliferation of Airbnb properties and other holiday rentals in Athens, with locals long expressing their discontent over the swarms of tourists clogging up streets and creating noise pollution. One particularly bold piece of graffiti that covers almost an entire side of a building proclaims, "Tourists enjoy your stay in the cemetery of Europe," alluding to Athens' status as an ancient capital and the increasing issue of residents being priced out of their own city.

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Last month saw protesters taking to the streets to call for action, chanting slogans like "They are taking our houses while they live in the Maldives", reports the Mirror .

Dimitri, a local property developer, said: "80% of this neighbourhood are Airbnbs. Tourists who come here want to see the Greek culture, so if no more Greeks are living here, tourists won't want to come."

Greece, more so than many Mediterranean countries, is heavily dependent on tourism, which accounted for a fifth of its GDP in 2022. In Greece, over 40% of disposable income is spent on housing, a figure that surpasses any other European country.

Additionally, seven out of ten Greeks under the age of 34 still reside with their parents. Short-term holiday rental figures have skyrocketed by 500% in less than a decade as an increasing number of homeowners and landlords seek to profit from the record-breaking number of tourists visiting Greece.

Last year saw 33.4 million tourists, with approximately 6.7 million landing at Athens' Eleutherios Venizelos Airport, as reported by the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises. The issue of overtourism in Athens and the challenge of addressing it is not a new phenomenon.

Last year, the city was placed on a 'No Travel' list compiled by Foders. The American publication argued that Athens, like many other historical cities, is being eroded and damaged due to uncontrolled tourism.

Having recovered in terms of visitor numbers following the financial crisis and coronavirus lockdowns, "there's fear that if the surge of visitors continues unchecked, the most Athenian boroughs will culturally erode and physically disappear," warns Fodors.

At the heart of the issue is the Acropolis, Greece's biggest tourist draw and arguably its most renowned architectural gem. The site, which houses the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Propylaea entrance, sees nearly 17,000 visitors daily.

This symbol of ancient Greek civilisation is a must-visit location but has faced criticism in recent years. Numerous tourists have expressed dissatisfaction with their visit to the monument, arguing that the large crowds and the intense midday sun make it challenging to fully appreciate the atmosphere of the Acropolis.

The emergence of graffiti and protests in Athens coincides with demonstrations across Spain, where some locals are becoming weary of the effects of excessive tourism.

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Why Barcelona locals really hate tourists

A spaniard gives an insight into why anti-tourist sentiment is rife in the city, article bookmarked.

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Imagine you’re walking down the street in the city you’ve been dying to visit for months, or even years. You’re in a good mood because you’re on holiday; the sun seems to shine brighter than usual and life feels good. But then you turn a corner and stumble upon a piece of graffiti that reads: “Tourist you are the terrorist".

You ignore it, attributing it to some angry guy with a sad life who probably doesn’t get out all that much. But a few metres ahead you see another troubling line: “All tourists are bastards”.

A few steps further on: “Stop destroying our lives!” And after that: “Why call it tourist season if we can’t shoot them?”

Now it seems more than just an isolated incident. You keep walking, but the spring is gone from your step. Perhaps the sun isn’t that bright today, after all.

As a Spanish citizen who has lived in Barcelona for six years, I’ve seen the huge increase in tourism and witnessed the growing counter-movement driven by locals, which is starting to get referred to as “tourism-phobia”. I first saw this kind of graffiti about three years ago, as I waited for a traffic light to turn green on my way to work. Right in front of me, sprayed on a pedestrian crossing next to Sagrada Família, I read the words “Tourist go home”. This was just the tip of the iceberg – angry graffiti and passive-aggressive messages started appearing all over the city. Recently, anti-tourist protests have hit headlines . But why all the hate? Isn’t this backlash way over the top?

On one hand, the answer is yes, it is. But on the other hand, it’s a reaction that has been triggered by the swelling numbers of tourists, creating massive overcrowding – the city has been stretched to breaking point. Barcelona is the twentieth most visited city in the world, and it keeps breaking its record number of visitors each year, going from 27 million tourists in 2012 to more than 34 million in 2016. That’s an increase of over 25 per cent in four years.

Low-cost flights, as well as the popularisation of home-sharing platforms such as AirBnB and Homeaway, which tend to be cheaper and more convenient than hotels, have contributed to the growing number of sightseers. In turn, investors are speculating and buying entire buildings – some where families have lived for decades – to cater for this growing industry. Landlords are seeing an opportunity to gain up to four times as much as they would for renting to long-term local tenants, and 40 per cent of Barcelona’s tourist apartments are illegal. This is leading to a shortage of housing for those who live and work here and driving up rents, which increased by 16.5 per cent in 2016.

Now imagine you live in Barcelona – and life is becoming more expensive all the time. On Friday morning, like every week for years, you go to buy some groceries at the typical market in your neighbourhood, La Boqueria. But lately it is so crowded with tourists that it’s hard to navigate the aisles; a trip that used to take you 20 minutes now takes over an hour. At the meat stand you run into your neighbour from the building opposite, an old lady who’s lived there for decades. She looks upset: it turns out the owners are selling the whole building to an investor who is planning to turn the historic building into luxury apartments for wealthy foreigners, and the tenants have six months to leave. Where will this lady go? She was paying “old rental” prices and she can’t afford the new exorbitant market rates.

The next day, Saturday, you decide to have lunch at the old place around the corner, which is one of the few left where a typical tapa is served. But there’s a long queue of people waiting outside, most of them tourists. Since you aren’t willing to wait half an hour to eat uncomfortably in a crowded restaurant, you head home and eat whatever’s in the fridge. In the evening you head to a pub you love with some friends, only to find it’s gone: it’s been replaced by a touristy restaurant. On your way home, you hear drunken youngsters speaking a foreign language as you approach your street. As you turn the corner, you realise it’s the same group of people that rented the flat above yours, which you know doesn’t have a licence for holiday rentals, and they’ve been partying for days, disrupting your sleep. Now one of them, a guy, is facing the wall beside the doorstep across the street. He’s peeing. And it’s useless to tell them off – you’ve tried before and they just laugh at you. Your neighbours will have to endure the smell of dry pee for days.

In the end you decide you can’t take it anymore and start looking for a studio to rent in another area which isn’t as crowded. But after months of searching, you give up: the few ones on offer are either too expensive, too far from your office, too small for the price or too dodgy. You feel so much a stranger in your own city that it makes you angry. And one day you feel the need to express it somehow: writing angry graffiti fuelled by your sense of desperate isolation.

These events are a typical part of life as a Barcelona citizen, so it’s no wonder locals perceive tourism as their biggest problem according to a recent survey by the government – even above unemployment and working conditions. Over half of the population thinks the city is at full capacity and that no efforts should be made to attract more tourists.

However, attacking visitors isn’t the solution in a city where tourism represents the main source of income. Actually, 86.7 per cent of locals see tourism as a positive thing, but many think it needs to be further regulated. As does the local government, which has acknowledged the situation and taken measures to try and contain it. Besides the tourist tax applied to accommodation for spending the night in the city, the licensing and building of new accommodation (hotels, hostels and apartments) has been paralysed since 2015, and earlier this year a special urbanism plan for tourism (PEUAT) was passed, whereby the licensing of tourist accommodation is restricted depending on the area. The aim is to distribute tourists more evenly throughout the city and decongest the most central and affected districts.

Hopefully these measures will achieve their goal and help ease tensions, but only time will tell whether tourism and local life can reach a balance. Meanwhile, you shouldn’t be afraid to visit: most locals are aware that this is an administration problem and will treat you in a friendly way. If you’re visiting the city, being respectful, trying to interfere as little as possible with locals’ lives and choosing an accommodation option that doesn’t have a direct negative impact – or at least that isn’t illegal – can go a long way.

Because Barcelona does not hate you – just your pee.

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Anti-tourism attacks in Spain: who is behind them and what do they want?

Senior Lecturer in Spanish, Manchester Metropolitan University

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Karl McLaughlin does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Already plagued by long security queues at airports, holidaymakers visiting top destinations in Spain face more vacation woes once they arrive. Anti-tourism activists have been targeting Barcelona, Majorca, Valencia and San Sebastián with protests – some of them involving violence. The goal seems to be to rail against the negative impact of mass tourism on local life and living standards.

In Barcelona, which welcomes some 32m visitors annually, a sightseeing bus was attacked at the end of July as it arrived at FC Barcelona’s iconic Camp Nou stadium. Masked assailants slashed the tyres and daubed graffiti on the sides of the bus.

They sprayed the message (in Catalan) “tourism kills neighbourhoods” in orange paint on the windscreen. Passengers, including several Britons , said they initially thought they were under attack from terrorists. Elsewhere in the city, bicycles rented out to tourists have been vandalised and rendered unusable.

Days earlier, a group of around 20 anti-tourism activists brandishing flares and placards burst into the popular Mar de Nudos restaurant in Palma, the capital of holiday island Majorca. They showered the mainly foreign customers with confetti, before staging a smoke-filled protest next to luxury yachts moored in the marina.

In a video posted later on social media, the campaigners urged others to join them in bringing chaos to bear on the “mass tourism that is destroying Majorca and condemns the working classes to a life of misery”. Following the incident, graffiti has appeared speaking out against tourist apartments and the “invasion” by café terraces on Palma’s popular Calle Blanquerna.

In Valencia, protesters occupied a rental apartment used for city breaks and unfurled a banner on the balcony decrying the tourism-driven gentrification of the area and demanding that housing be used to meet the needs of locals.

Previously, an estimated 100 locals dressed up as tourists and paraded through the streets, satirising visitor behaviour (including urinating against walls) as a protest against “ touristification ”.

Meanwhile, in San Sebastián, where a population of 180,000 greeted two million tourists in 2016, “tourists go home” slogans by pro-Basque, left-wing groups have appeared on city walls. There are fears that the actions will escalate further, with a street demonstration planned for the height of the mid-August Semana Grande fiestas. The prospect of trouble is, unsurprisingly, a major worry for the city and the Basque Country generally, which have enjoyed an impressive upturn in tourism since separatist group ETA ended its campaign of violence in 2011.

Unsustainable numbers?

Tourism industry leaders are at pains to stress that the protests should be taken with a pinch of salt. They claim the attacks are clearly part of the pro-independence agendas of a small number of radical and anarchist movements. That’s why the incidents have been concentrated in Catalonia, the Basque Country and the Balearic Islands.

However, the high profile actions are sparking fresh debate on the Spanish tourism model and its arguably unsustainable visitor numbers. This is particularly pressing in a year designated International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the UN.

Spain is the world’s third most visited country. Last year, it posted a new record of 75m tourists, nearly 17m of them British. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council , the total contribution of travel and tourism to Spain’s economy in 2016 was €158.9 billion, or 14.2% of GDP. That figure is expected to rise by nearly 4% by the end of 2017. The sector accounts for an estimated 2.7m direct and indirect jobs in the country.

However, the picture isn’t entirely positive. Luxury hotels have been built in Lanzarote, for example, without planning permission . They did come with juicy backhanders for mayors, though. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, developers bought up cheap tracts of land on the eve of the announcement of a major beach development after colluding with local officials. The land was promptly sold off to the council for the flagship regeneration project at a massively inflated price. Culprits on both sides of that particular scandal were sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison .

Fertile ground

Fuelled in part by the understandably angry reaction to such corruption, there is little doubt that the message of anti mass-tourism campaigners is falling on fertile ground, despite widespread criticism of their aggressive methods. There is increasing sympathy for local residents and businesses who are being squeezed out of destinations by spiralling rents and property prices, not to mention for the young people denied a decent and stable living due to tourism’s low-wage and long-hour employment.

Far from being simply another headline-grabbing fad cooked up by anti-establishment groups, the incidents may speak to a much wider and more receptive audience. A survey commissioned by Barcelona council found that locals consider tourism to be the city’s second most pressing problem , after unemployment. It is a view shared by Barcelona’s leftist mayor, Ana Colau, who was criticised last week for not denouncing the sightseeing bus attack immediately.

A year before taking up office, Colau took to the UK media to bemoan the evils of a tourism-saturated city and reveal her fears that Barcelona could become the next Venice. Even if not enjoying the same explicit political support elsewhere, the anti-tourism mobilisations of recent weeks may have touched a nerve and could spread to other parts of the country.

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'No tourists, no hipsters': Anti-tourism graffiti spreads across Athens as Greek capital joins other European destinations in demanding an end to 'over-tourism'

• Anti-tourism graffiti has been springing up around the city since last year
• In April, protesters swarmed Athens' streets to voice outrage at tourist numbers

By Taryn Pedler

Published: 05:22 EDT, 14 May 2024 | Updated: 08:07 EDT, 14 May 2024

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The sprawling anti-tourism drive seen across several sunny destinations in Europe has spread to Athens as the historic city demands an end to 'over-tourism' through harsh graffiti messages.

Last month, furious protesters also took to the streets of the Greek capital to voice their outrage at the rising numbers of tourists flooding their home.

Greece issued a plea for 'no more tourism' because the stunning city - and home to iconic landmarks such as the Acropolis - is becoming increasingly swamped with British holidaymakers.

The anti-tourist sentiment has manifested in several forms including graffiti targeting foreigners, public demonstrations, and even instances of vandalism and arson, since last year.

Huge signs sprayed onto the sides of buildings and other walls across the sun-soaked city present a chilling warning to visitors, with one reading: 'Tourists Go Home! Greek State Kills'.

Anti-tourism graffiti has been spotted across the historic city of Athens as the Greek capital cracks down on tourist numbers 

One chilling message reads: 'Tourists go home! Greek state kills'

A local resident who was forced out of her home in Metaxourgio, Athens, said the situation in the bustling city was becoming 'very depressing'

Another disturbing example shows a large building depicting two ' Airbnb ' towers ablaze, beneath the caption: 'Tourists Enjoy Your Stay In The Cemetery Of Europe'.

Slogans including 'No Tourists No Hipsters' and 'Burn Airbnb' have also been spotted in the streets of Athens, displaying a harsh message to holidaymakers seeking to soak up the Greek sun.

The horror warnings come as protesters too to the streets of Athens last month as they claimed not only were tourists overcrowding the city on their holidays, but also taking their houses.

Demonstrators chanted: 'They are taking our houses while they live in the Maldives'.

Anna Theodorakis, a local resident who was forced out of her home in Metaxourgio, Athens, told France24 at the time that the situation in the bustling city was becoming 'very depressing'.

'I think the answer is to go in the streets and block everything and just not do something because people are losing their homes,' she said.

Locals are concerned over the rising numbers of Airbnbs in the historic city, as tourists are blamed for 'wiping out traditional places'.

Dimitri, a property developer converting a former warehouse into Airbnbs, explained that the over-tourism was detrimental to the city. 

He said: 'Eighty percent of this neighborhood are Airbnbs. Tourists who come here want to see the Greek culture, so if no more Greeks are living here, tourists won't want to come'.

Locals are concerned over the rising numbers of Airbnbs in the historic city, as tourists are blamed for 'wiping out traditional places'

Messages sprayed on to walls by locals are urging tourists to 'go home'

The anti-tourist sentiment has manifested in several forms including graffiti targeting foreigners, public demonstrations, and even instances of vandalism and arson, since last year

Despite the anger on the ground against tourism, the Greek government has refused to relent on its drive for more visitors

The graffiti warnings come as protesters too to the streets of Athens last month as they claimed not only were tourists overcrowding the city on their holidays, but also taking their houses

Last month angry tourists blasted Greek officials over plans to introduce 'elitist' tour prices for exclusive access to the Acropolis - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

To alleviate overcrowding and offer a more intimate experience, the Greek culture ministry introduced a scheme allowing small groups of up to five people to explore the site outside of regular hours.

Under the new scheme, up to four groups of five people each can enjoy guided tours led by expert archaeologists during exclusive time slots from 7am to 9am and 8pm to 10pm - hours outside the official opening and closing times.

This initiative aims to provide tourists with a more intimate and less crowded experience of the historic landmark before thousands of sightseers ascend the rocky hill.

However, the proposed price tag of £4,285 (€5,000) for a small group has sparked outrage among travellers. 

Despite the anger on the ground against tourism, the Greek government has refused to relent on its drive for more visitors.

Last month angry tourists blasted Greek officials over plans to introduce 'elitist' tour prices for exclusive access to the Acropolis

In April, Greece launched 'free' week-long holidays for around 25,000, mainly British, tourists who fled the 2023 Rhodes wildfires, as pat of the 'Rhodes Week' initiative.

Those who were registered on the evacuation lists during the fires are being provided with an e-voucher for a hotel stay similar to their previous accommodation.

The value of the voucher can range from €300-€500, depending on the category of the hotel.

The strong anti-tourism drive and surge in demanding graffiti messages comes after a series of similar crackdowns that have erupted around Europe - most notably Spain .

In Menorca, graffiti sprung up on walls telling tourists to 'go home', while in Marbella last year, tyres on cars with British number plates were slashed. 

On April 20, thousands of protestors took to the streets of the Canary Islands to protest against the problems caused by mass tourism and demand their politicians take action. 

Mallorca anti-tourism campaign urges locals not to reveal beauty spots on their social media in latest bid to discourage visitors

The protestors chanted the slogan: 'Canarias tiene un limite', which in English translates as 'The Canary Islands have a limit.'

Two weeks ago the same words appeared painted in white on the tarmac of one of the access roads to Mount Teide in Tenerife.

Another message painted on the road said: 'Moratoria turistica' - 'Tourist moratorium' in English.'

Majorcan-based hotel chief Joan Pla warned recently the mass tourism protests in the Canary Islands could be repeated in the Balearics.

He claimed the number of homes built for local residents that were being purchased instead by foreigners as holiday properties was a problem.

And he complained islands like Majorca where he is based were having to cope with the influx of too many people at certain times of the year.

Tenerife, a popular island with British tourists, has been at the forefront of the protests linked to the type of mass tourism it attracts.

The words 'Go Home Tourist' were scrawled in English over a wall underneath a real estate promotion billboard in Nou Llevant, Mallorca, a neighbourhood that has seen a massive influx of foreign buyers over the past few years

Spanish islands are threatened by sea pollution, traffic gridlock and lack of cheap affordable housing linked to the pushing-up of property prices because of Airbnb-style holiday lets

Demonstrators packed into Weyler Square in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, the start point for a march on the Brit-popular holiday island, on April 20

Graffiti in English left on walls and benches in and around Palm Mar in southern Tenerife at the start of last month included 'My misery your paradise' and 'Average salary in Canary Islands is 1,200 euros.' 

Last week, a Menorca holiday village dubbed the 'Spanish Mykonos' threatened to ban all tourists  after previously telling them to only visit between 11am and 8pm so they can enjoy their breakfasts.

It comes after the government of the Balearic Islands introduced a ban on the sale of alcohol between 9:30pm and 8am in a bid to crack down on so-called low quality tourism.

The decree bans late night sales of booze from commercial establishments in Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza.

Ibiza also became the latest Spanish holidaymaker hotspot to join in with growing anti-tourism protests  that have erupted around the country.

'We welcome anybody who wants to enjoy our local culture, gastronomy, local traditions, beautiful beaches and covers,' said Xaquelina Ana Perry, a spokeswoman for an activist group by the name of Prou Eivissa (Enough Ibiza).

'We are only against the massification of the type of tourism attracted to our island. The island is saturated, especially with illegal renting and our 572 square kilometres cannot take anymore,' she added.

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Tourists in Tenerife wake up to signs from furious locals warning them to 'go home'

The Canary Islands, particularly Tenerife, has been hit be anti-tourism graffiti from some locals who believe that the tourism industry is causing more harm than good

• 09:28, 6 Mar 2024
• Updated 10:30, 6 Mar 2024

Tourists have been met with a stern order to go home by locals in Tenerife fed up with the overwhelmed amenities and rising house prices .

Messages like 'Tourists go home,' 'My misery your paradise,' and 'Average salary in Canary Islands is 1,200' were slapped onto walls in Palm-Mar, a small town in the largest of the Canary Islands . Tourism, which is usually seen as the lifeblood and money-maker of the Canaries especially in the south of Tenerife, has become an increasingly hot topic in recent months as residents are warning that the hotspots are 'facing collapse' .

One graffiti message highlights that the average monthly wage in the Canary Islands is about 1,200 euros (£1000). Adding to the worries of locals, the Tenerife Cabildo declared a water emergency on Friday. While this isn't directly linked to tourism, some tourist areas on the islands use six times more water than residential areas. This puts pressure on the water reserves needed for drinking and farming, the Express reported.

Last year it was reported that anti-tourist graffiti had also been seen in Tenerife, calling for people to go home. Last month in Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria the message, 'tourists and digital nomads go home' was daubed on the walls. The Canarian Weekly has dubbed the phenomenon 'tourismphobia'.

However Carmelo J. León, a professor of tourism at Las Palmas University, said organised opposition to the travel and hospitality industries remained very low, and that the vast majority of Canarians continued to welcome visitors.

"Most of the population is very happy with tourists, of all nationalities. The Canary Islands have always been very friendly. The great majority understand it adds value to them, in terms of the flow of culture, the cultural value of tourists from Germany, Sweden, Britain. People are very happy with the British coming to the Canary Islands," he told the Mirror.

Some residents and environmental pressure groups argue that the natural beauty of the island chain is being overwhelmed by visitors, while house prices are becoming unaffordable for many who have long lived on the island.

A huge shift from hotels to Airbnbs and other holiday lets in recent years has put major pressure on the islands' housing markets, pricing locals out from hubs such as Tenerife. Last month Doctor Matías González Hernández, an academic at Las Palmas University on the islands, warned a "red light" was flashing when it came to the threat of homelessness, as more and more Canarians "can't afford to rent or buy a house".

He argued more public housing had to be built along with better schools and a road system capable of dealing with the increasingly large numbers of people who use it.

"In this moment the island is experiencing a bloom in development which has not been accompanied by environmental infrastructure, or to deal with mobility. Right now you get stuck for two hours on the main roads. We can't think of tourism as separate from society," he said.

The Canary Islands Tourism Board has downplayed the issue, suggesting the numbers of visitors heading to the island chain was sustainable.

Its spokesperson told the Mirror that the current annual visitor number is the same as pre-pandemic, and that "the influx of tourists is very stable throughout the year, with hardly any seasonality."

"This means the presence of 312,216 tourists in the Canary Islands daily, so the pressure on the territory and its resources and the local population is much less than in other destinations that concentrate the arrival of tourists in specific periods of the year," a spokesperson for the Board said.

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Chilling anti-tourist graffiti appears in ANOTHER Brit hols hotspot saying ‘GO HOME’ as protests spread to Greece

• Aliki Kraterou , Senior Foreign News Reporter
• Published : 12:12, 14 May 2024
• Updated : 13:00, 14 May 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

MORE anti-tourist graffiti has appeared at another Brit holiday hotspot as Athens joins the wave of protests calling for an end to "over-tourism."

The sunny Greek capital, home to the iconic Parthenon has seen an increase in bitter graffiti messages urging tourists to "go home" - similar to the ones that have appeared in Spain in the past weeks .

Furious locals took to the streets in Athens to protest over the hordes of tourists flocking to the city last month.

Demonstrations over the growing number of tourists in the capital have been happening since last year - with incidents of vandalism and arson in some cases.

But new anti-tourism graffiti has been sprayed onto walls across the city with one reading: "Tourists Go Home! Greek State Kills".

Another disturbing graffiti shows two "Airbnb" towers in flames with the caption: "Tourists Enjoy Your Stay In The Cemetery Of Europe".

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Other slogans reading "Tourists go home" and "No Tourists No Hipsters," aim to send a message to holidaymakers.

It comes as protesters claimed tourists not only add to the city's overcrowding but they are also taking their homes.

Demonstrators chanted: "They are taking our houses while they live in the Maldives".

Local Anna Theodorakis, who was forced out of her home in Metaxourgio, Athens, told France24 at the time that the situation was becoming "very depressing".

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She said: "I think the answer is to go in the streets and block everything and just not do something because people are losing their homes."

Residents said they are worried over the rising numbers of Airbnbs over fears traditional neighbourhoods will start to disappear.

Dimitri, a property developer said: "Eighty percent of this neighborhood are Airbnbs.

"Tourists who come here want to see the Greek culture, so if no more Greeks are living here, tourists won't want to come."

Greece received a record-breaking 33.4 millions of tourists last year - with about 6.7 million of them arriving at Athens' Eleutherios Venizelos Airport, according to the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (INSETE).

It comes as protesters at Spanish holiday hotspots have also been calling for measures to  curb excess tourism .

Thousands took to the streets in Tenerife  last month to demand restrictions on holidaymakers.

More than 15,000 people waved Canary Islands’ flags and blew horns to make a deafening noise in the capital Santa Cruz.

Residents said they are "fed-up" with "low quality"  Brits who only come for the cheap beer, burgers and sunbathing .

A wave of  anti-tourist graffiti spread across the island  to tell Brits they are not welcome.

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While in Ibiza, locals have cried they "can't take anymore" as they called for further restrictions on tourists visiting the island.

Protesters also gathered in Madrid and  Barcelona  to show their support.

‘No tourists, no hipsters’: Anti-tourism graffiti spreads across Athens as Greek capital joins other European destinations in demanding an end to ‘over-tourism’

The sprawling anti-tourism drive seen across several sunny destinations in Europe has spread to Athens as the historic city demands an end to ‘over-tourism’ through harsh graffiti messages.

Last month, furious protesters also took to the streets of the Greek capital to voice their outrage at the rising numbers of tourists flooding their home.

Greece issued a plea for ‘no more tourism’ because the stunning city – and home to iconic landmarks such as the Acropolis – is becoming increasingly swamped with British holidaymakers.

The anti-tourist sentiment has manifested in several forms including graffiti targeting foreigners, public demonstrations, and even instances of vandalism and arson, since last year.

Huge signs sprayed onto the sides of buildings and other walls across the sun-soaked city present a chilling warning to visitors, with one reading: ‘Tourists Go Home! Greek State Kills’.

Anti-tourism graffiti has been spotted across the historic city of Athens as the Greek capital cracks down on tourist numbers 

One chilling message reads: ‘Tourists go home! Greek state kills’

A local resident who was forced out of her home in Metaxourgio, Athens, said the situation in the bustling city was becoming ‘very depressing’

Another disturbing example shows a large building depicting two ‘ Airbnb ‘ towers ablaze, beneath the caption: ‘Tourists Enjoy Your Stay In The Cemetery Of Europe’.

Slogans including ‘No Tourists No Hipsters’ and ‘Burn Airbnb’ have also been spotted in the streets of Athens, displaying a harsh message to holidaymakers seeking to soak up the Greek sun.

The horror warnings come as protesters too to the streets of Athens last month as they claimed not only were tourists overcrowding the city on their holidays, but also taking their houses.

Demonstrators chanted: ‘They are taking our houses while they live in the Maldives’.

Anna Theodorakis, a local resident who was forced out of her home in Metaxourgio, Athens, told France24 at the time that the situation in the bustling city was becoming ‘very depressing’.

‘I think the answer is to go in the streets and block everything and just not do something because people are losing their homes,’ she said.

Locals are concerned over the rising numbers of Airbnbs in the historic city, as tourists are blamed for ‘wiping out traditional places’.

Dimitri, a property developer converting a former warehouse into Airbnbs, explained that the over-tourism was detrimental to the city. 

He said: ‘Eighty percent of this neighborhood are Airbnbs. Tourists who come here want to see the Greek culture, so if no more Greeks are living here, tourists won’t want to come’.

Locals are concerned over the rising numbers of Airbnbs in the historic city, as tourists are blamed for ‘wiping out traditional places’

Messages sprayed on to walls by locals are urging tourists to ‘go home’

The anti-tourist sentiment has manifested in several forms including graffiti targeting foreigners, public demonstrations, and even instances of vandalism and arson, since last year

Despite the anger on the ground against tourism, the Greek government has refused to relent on its drive for more visitors

The graffiti warnings come as protesters too to the streets of Athens last month as they claimed not only were tourists overcrowding the city on their holidays, but also taking their houses

Last month angry tourists blasted Greek officials over plans to introduce ‘elitist’ tour prices for exclusive access to the Acropolis – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

To alleviate overcrowding and offer a more intimate experience, the Greek culture ministry introduced a scheme allowing small groups of up to five people to explore the site outside of regular hours.

Under the new scheme, up to four groups of five people each can enjoy guided tours led by expert archaeologists during exclusive time slots from 7am to 9am and 8pm to 10pm – hours outside the official opening and closing times.

This initiative aims to provide tourists with a more intimate and less crowded experience of the historic landmark before thousands of sightseers ascend the rocky hill.

However, the proposed price tag of £4,285 (€5,000) for a small group has sparked outrage among travellers. 

Despite the anger on the ground against tourism, the Greek government has refused to relent on its drive for more visitors.

Last month angry tourists blasted Greek officials over plans to introduce ‘elitist’ tour prices for exclusive access to the Acropolis

In April, Greece launched ‘free’ week-long holidays for around 25,000, mainly British, tourists who fled the 2023 Rhodes wildfires, as pat of the ‘Rhodes Week’ initiative.

Those who were registered on the evacuation lists during the fires are being provided with an e-voucher for a hotel stay similar to their previous accommodation.

The value of the voucher can range from €300-€500, depending on the category of the hotel.

The strong anti-tourism drive and surge in demanding graffiti messages comes after a series of similar crackdowns that have erupted around Europe – most notably Spain .

In Menorca, graffiti sprung up on walls telling tourists to ‘go home’, while in Marbella last year, tyres on cars with British number plates were slashed. 

On April 20, thousands of protestors took to the streets of the Canary Islands to protest against the problems caused by mass tourism and demand their politicians take action. 

The protestors chanted the slogan: ‘Canarias tiene un limite’, which in English translates as ‘The Canary Islands have a limit.’

Two weeks ago the same words appeared painted in white on the tarmac of one of the access roads to Mount Teide in Tenerife.

Another message painted on the road said: ‘Moratoria turistica’ – ‘Tourist moratorium’ in English.’

Majorcan-based hotel chief Joan Pla warned recently the mass tourism protests in the Canary Islands could be repeated in the Balearics.

He claimed the number of homes built for local residents that were being purchased instead by foreigners as holiday properties was a problem.

And he complained islands like Majorca where he is based were having to cope with the influx of too many people at certain times of the year.

Tenerife, a popular island with British tourists, has been at the forefront of the protests linked to the type of mass tourism it attracts.

The words ‘Go Home Tourist’ were scrawled in English over a wall underneath a real estate promotion billboard in Nou Llevant, Mallorca, a neighbourhood that has seen a massive influx of foreign buyers over the past few years

Spanish islands are threatened by sea pollution, traffic gridlock and lack of cheap affordable housing linked to the pushing-up of property prices because of Airbnb-style holiday lets

Demonstrators packed into Weyler Square in the Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, the start point for a march on the Brit-popular holiday island, on April 20

Graffiti in English left on walls and benches in and around Palm Mar in southern Tenerife at the start of last month included ‘My misery your paradise’ and ‘Average salary in Canary Islands is 1,200 euros.’ 

Last week, a Menorca holiday village dubbed the ‘Spanish Mykonos’ threatened to ban all tourists  after previously telling them to only visit between 11am and 8pm so they can enjoy their breakfasts.

It comes after the government of the Balearic Islands introduced a ban on the sale of alcohol between 9:30pm and 8am in a bid to crack down on so-called low quality tourism.

The decree bans late night sales of booze from commercial establishments in Llucmajor, Palma and Calvia in Mallorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza.

Ibiza also became the latest Spanish holidaymaker hotspot to join in with growing anti-tourism protests  that have erupted around the country.

‘We welcome anybody who wants to enjoy our local culture, gastronomy, local traditions, beautiful beaches and covers,’ said Xaquelina Ana Perry, a spokeswoman for an activist group by the name of Prou Eivissa (Enough Ibiza).

‘We are only against the massification of the type of tourism attracted to our island. The island is saturated, especially with illegal renting and our 572 square kilometres cannot take anymore,’ she added.

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Breaking news, columbia university nyc subway station defaced with bright red anti-israel graffiti.

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The Columbia University subway station was defaced with anti-Israel graffiti in bright red paint this week — months after protesters occupied the Morningside Heights Ivy League campus. 

A station superintendent was riding a southbound No. 1 train around 2:15 a.m. Wednesday when he spotted the brazen graffiti on both the northbound and southbound platforms of the 116th St-Columbia University station, cops said. 

The messages included “Long Live Hind’s Hall” — a reference to the university’s iconic Hamilton Hall, which occupiers renamed this past spring in honor of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in the Middle Eastern conflict, according to photos posted on X.  

The graffitied words “Divest Now,” “Funds Genocide” and “GTFO of Harlem” could also be seen under the “Columbia University” tiling on the station walls.

“Free Palestine,” another message said, in addition to “Intifada” scrawled on a station column. 

The superintendent called 911 to report the vandalism, cops said. 

No arrests had been made by Friday and the investigation is ongoing. 

Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine posted images of the graffiti on X , accompanied by the caption, “From an anonymous submission: We left Columbia University a little Juneteenth present. Columbia property doesn’t exist when they’ve stolen everything they have. Columbia must stop funding genocide and get out of Harlem.”

The vandalism was discovered one day before Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office dismissed cases against 31 of 46 people charged with trespassing following the NYPD’s dramatic April 30 raid.

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Racist Graffiti on Angela Alsobrooks’ Campaign Sign Is a Reminder of the Threats Black Women in Politics Face

The recent defacement of Maryland U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Angela Alsobrooks’ campaign sign with hateful and threatening messages highlights the persistent racism and abuse that women—especially Black women —endure when seeking to run, win, serve and lead in our politics. Such acts, including the brandishing of “KKK” by vandals and a target drawn on her forehead, assault both individual dignity and democratic principles.

In our work with women political leaders, we repeatedly hear about increasing personal threats and toxicity at every level of government. As cited recently by Rob Richie in the Washington Post , CivicPulse found that about half of our local leaders experience hostility relating to their service at least once a month. At the same time, Princeton University’s “Bridging Divides Initiative” reports that 1 in 6 have been threatened. A comprehensive 2023 report on political violence in the United States by Protect Democracy and Johns Hopkins’ The Agora Institute found that “women and people of color are disproportionately targeted—and there is some evidence that this leads them to ‘opt-out’ of visible public service roles in the first place.”

The heinous act against a prominent politician shows that threats of violence are an all too real reality, in particular for Black women. Angela Alsobrooks and all Black women in politics deserve our support and respect as they serve their communities. At RepresentWomen , we are committed to uncovering the obstacles faced by Black women in politics through assiduously researching how system reforms can result in solutions to increase their representation in government.

Our 2024 brief, “ Breaking Barriers for Black Women in Politics ,” showcased the hurdles Black women are forced to contend with, such as biases, misogyny and flawed political practices. We proposed early investments by political parties, adopting gender and race-based funding measures by donors and PACs, and ranked-choice voting (RCV). Now, the time has come for us to turn our focus to the in-person and online attacks that some candidates face, not only because they are women but because they are Black women.

Alsobrooks is not the first Black woman in politics to receive racist abuse, and she will not be the last. The issue of abuse against Black women in politics is historic and systemic. Prominent figures like Stacey Abrams, Kamala Harris, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Maxine Waters have all endured racist and misogynistic slurs, misinformation campaigns and threats of violence aimed at undermining their campaigns, qualifications and personal safety. These gender and race-based attacks also impact Black women working at the statewide executive, state legislative and local levels of government, as well as the judiciary. Society rarely acknowledges the emotional and mental toll these attacks engender, but the cost to these candidates’ well-being is undoubtedly high.

To his credit, Alsobrooks’ Republican opponent, Larry Hogan, criticized the defacement of her sign , saying: “Hate, threats of violence, and racism must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. They have no place in Maryland.”

Unfortunately, national Republicans have been slower to criticize similar words and actions, which underscores the urgent need for measures to protect and support these politicians in their roles. While all candidates run the risk of facing abuse due to the nature of their work, the type of abuse directed at women is uniquely dangerous due to the historical precedent of hatred and violence.

In an exclusive statement to RepresentWomen, former mayor of Kankakee, Ill., Chasity Wells-Armstrong, said:

“We have seen increasing incidents of bullying, threats and harassment toward women candidates. Unfortunately, the recent vandalism of U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks’ campaign sign indicates the additional challenges women face outside the policy debates. I, too, experienced vandalism, signs being removed, and renters being told by their Republican landlords that they could not display my signs on their property. This practice is an overreach regarding renter’s rights, civil campaigns and our overall democracy.”

Failing to protect Black women endangers other candidates who are minoritized by gender, race or religion by setting a recklessly low standard of care and perpetuating outdated social hierarchies. It is imperative for all groups and individuals committed to a representative democracy to champion the authorization for candidates to use campaign funds to hire security personnel and staff. This approach empowers candidates to protect themselves, their teams and their supporters proactively.

Portland City Council member and RepresentWomen’s national partnerships manager Victoria Pelletier expressed her solidarity with Alsobrooks while echoing calls for campaign funding reform:

“The vandalism of Angela Alsobrooks’ campaign sign is deeply saddening but not surprising. Black women in visible positions of power are often targets of intimidation and violence. Calls to ‘support Black women’ should be accompanied by demands for policy changes, including using campaign funds for adequate safety measures.”

Americans can also play a vital role in reshaping mindsets and endorsing social movements aimed at eradicating deeply ingrained misogynistic perceptions of women in leadership positions. Fostering introspection and reflection on both conscious and subconscious biases and stereotypes surrounding nontraditional candidates, such as people of color and women, is crucial in mitigating the degradation and harassment they often encounter. When implemented collectively and continuously, these solutions can address the underrepresentation of women in politics.

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U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For 50 years, Ms . has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms . today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you . For as little as $5 each month , you’ll receive the print magazine along with our e-newsletters, action alerts, and invitations to Ms . Studios events and podcasts . We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity .

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Police investigate anti-Muslim graffiti found in Mashpee

Mashpee police and the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office are investigating a rash of Islamophobic vandalism that appeared in two areas in Mashpee.

On June 12 at 7:38 a.m., the Mashpee Police Department responded to reported vandalism along the intersection of Cotuit Road and Windsor Way. The anti-Muslim statement was spray-painted on a three-foot retaining wall, said Police Chief Scott Carline in a statement to the Times.

While police were investigating the vandalism on Cotuit Road, more graffiti was reported at the intersection of Emma Oakley Mills Way and Route 130. The anti-Muslim words were spray painted across a boulder.

The black spray paint on the stone covered the saying: WUN-OH-KEE GOOD EARTH, which had previously been embossed on the boulder's surface.

Investigation ongoing

Mashpee Police Department detectives and the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office criminal investigators went to the scene of both incidents, Carline said.

A search with police tracking dogs was also attempted. But due to the length of time from the discovery, and the dissipation of the target odor, K-9 techniques were ineffective, Carline said.

"This is a very active and ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this time until the investigation has been completed," he said.

Director of Communications for the Sheriff's Office K.C. Myers said the Sheriff's Office can't comment due to the incident being an ongoing investigation.

Other incidents on Cape Cod

In March, a building in Mashpee occupied by the  Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project,  the  Native Land Conservancy , and  Wildfire Brick Oven Pizza  was defaced by graffiti, including swastika-type symbols, according to a Mashpee Police Department press release.

No damage appeared on the portion of the building where the pizza restaurant is located. The vandalism could be seen from Route 130. It was the second time the building had been targeted with graffiti , Reclamation Project founder Jessie "Little Doe" Baird, said.

In 2023, artist Craig Florence  returned to his Hyannis studio after taking a short lunch break to find a racial slur spray-painted several times on a brick wall 50 feet away. In the same year, graffiti with racial slurs was found in the men’s and boys’ locker rooms at the YMCA in West Barnstable, according to YMCA President and CEO Stacie Peugh. 

Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at  [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney.

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Anti-corruption watchdog drops potential probe into Tourism Australia travel scandal

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) informed Tourism Australia it would not launch an investigation into an expenses scandal, just hours after its chief executive refused to answer questions about the matter in parliament.

Last week, Tourism Australia CEO Phillipa Harrison revealed she had referred three former staff to the NACC after they were sacked for charging taxpayers for personal travel.

Appearing before Senate estimates, Ms Harrison said the three staff had repaid $137,441 after the incident came to light.

But she insisted could not provide parliament with further details of the incident — including the names of those involved — because that could prejudice a future probe from the NACC, and the commission had provided her with advice to show restraint in her public comments.

The anti-corruption watchdog said it informed Tourism Australia the day after Ms Harrison's evidence to the Senate that it would not wade in.

"The commission can confirm that it has recently decided to take no further action in relation to the referral, on the basis that, prior to the referral, the matter had already been fully investigated, the employees terminated and the funds repaid, so there was nothing that the commission could now usefully add to the process," the NACC told the ABC.

Tourism Australia said it had now asked the police to investigate, and would cooperate with the Senate.

"Following on from the confirmation that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) had decided to take no further action, Tourism Australia has now referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police," a spokesperson told the ABC.

"In addition, Tourism Australia has advised the Senate committee of its intention to withdraw the public interest immunity claim now that the NACC has concluded its consideration of the matter. 

"Tourism Australia will respond to the relevant questions as part of the questions on notice process where appropriate."

Opposition demanding answers from government and Tourism Australia

The federal opposition argued it was now incumbent on the government to come clean with details of the incident.

"The minister was made aware that taxpayer dollars had been fraudulently spent by public servants in late 2023," Shadow Trade and Tourism Minister Kevin Hogan said in a statement.

"There is now no anti-corruption investigation to hide behind.

"We need details about the embezzlement and how it has been handled."

The incident had caused some consternation in the Senate, with the demands for secrecy from the NACC as it considered the referral seen as interfering with the work of parliamentarians scrutinising Tourism Australia's operations.

"I have to say, this is the first time in my experience where a direction from the NACC has directed an official not to make a public statement," Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell told the Senate committee last week.

"This does present some significant issues which I myself would like to get clarified."

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Brooklyn Museum director, Jewish board members’ homes vandalized with antisemitic graffiti: ‘Blood on your hands’

T he Brooklyn Museum’s director and a number of its Jewish board members were targeted by antisemitic vandals overnight, multiple Big Apple lawmakers said Wednesday.

Director Anne Pasternak’s home was apparently among those targeted by the vile mob.

Photos being shared widely on social media show a sign taped up outside one building in Brooklyn Heights that screams, “Anne Pasternak Brooklyn Museum White Supremacist Zionist.”

The phrase “Blood on your hands” could be seen scrawled in red paint on the floor nearby.

Meanwhile, an inverted red triangle was also sprayed on the doors — a symbol that’s been used in the past by Hamas to identify Israeli military targets and, more recently, has been spotted at university tent encampment protests across the country.

“Disgusting & horrible incident of vandalism happened over night in Brooklyn Heights & other locations affiliated with Bk Museum. This anti-Semitic incident is despicable,” Councilman Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn) tweeted, adding that he’d visited one of the scenes early Wednesday.

The Post reached out to the NYPD about the vandalism but didn’t hear back immediately.

When reached by The Post, a spokesperson for the museum only said, “We are deeply troubled by these horrible acts.”

Other local lawmakers were quick to deride the latest spate of antisemitism to plague the city, with Councilmember Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) ripping the act as “absolutely horrific and vile.”

“This is not only disgusting antisemitism, it also poses a direct threat to the safety of these individuals and to the Jewish community,” Menin (D-Manhattan) tweeted.

“The cowards who did this are way over the line into antisemitism, harming the cause they claim to care about, and making everyone less safe,” Comptroller Brad Lander added.

It comes just weeks after anti-Israel protesters busted into the museum on May 31 and set up an encampment, defaced artwork and draped a banner from the side of the building declaring the war in Gaza “genocide.”

The museum’s yellow “OY/YO” sculpture was left covered in graffiti reading “Free Palestine” and “Free Gaza.”