A British woman who relocated to Barcelona almost ten years ago has provided a revealing insight into how local residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the transformation of their neighbourhoods, driven by a significant influx of expats and tourists.
From Welcoming to Wary: A Changing Barcelona
Gemma Askham made the move to the sought-after Spanish destination in 2017, following her half-Spanish husband's career opportunity, and has remained there ever since. While her initial six years passed relatively smoothly, she has since witnessed a dramatic shift in the local atmosphere.
This change has been catalysed by a wave of new expats arriving, combined with rising anti-tourism sentiments stirred by campaigns such as the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification (SET).
Economic Shifts and Cultural Clashes
With foreigners and holidaymakers flooding into Barcelona, the local economy has increasingly adapted to serve their tastes and needs, rather than prioritising long-term residents. Gemma observed that this underlying tension between expats and their new home escalated markedly following the Covid-19 outbreak.
Writing in Grazia back in August 2025, during a period of brewing tensions, Gemma highlighted a specific example: "In 2023, a street pedestrianisation project aimed at improving community life was completed. But there are now eight English-named brunch cafes within two blocks."
She shared the confusion this causes among locals, recounting how her 69-year-old neighbour, Toni Fontclara, cannot understand why people queue at 11 am for avocado on toast. This is a dish not from the region, served at an unheard-of eating hour for the Spanish, with a menu in a language he doesn't speak.
Visible Consequences: Quieter Streets and Divided Opinions
Gemma is not alone in spotting Barcelona's transformation. Visitor numbers have begun to drop after years of sustained anti-tourism demonstrations. Another British resident, Laura, who has been based in the city for around three years, took to social media last summer to post videos of unusually empty streets during daylight hours.
Laura said: "Day one of recording how quiet Barcelona is now, the tourists don't feel welcome. The businesses must be feeling it. The streets are so quiet now. These businesses last year used to wake me up in the morning. One has just recently been renovated."
Her clips demonstrate the tangible impact of the demonstrations, although views remain divided on their ultimate goals. While some protesters explicitly call for tourists to stay away, others insist the movement is fundamentally about protecting local residents and their way of life, rather than merely driving visitors off.
A Broader Movement for Resident Rights
Professor Marina Novelli provided context, explaining: "Places like Lisbon, Venice and Barcelona are increasingly reduced to lifestyle backdrops where locals feel like strangers. The SET movement is about cross-border solidarity. Ultimately, it's not anti-tourist, it's pro-resident."
The situation in Barcelona reflects a growing, complex challenge facing many popular European destinations, where the economic benefits of tourism and expat communities must be balanced against the social and cultural integrity of local neighbourhoods.
