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Anti-Tourism Protests Growing: How Jetsetters Can Avoid and Help

by John Daly | Jul 5, 2025 | blog, Undercover Jetsetter

A peaceful protest in Mexico City’s trendy Condesa and Roma neighborhoods turns into a chaotic scene of smashed storefronts, looted boutiques, and tourists being harassed.

The message?

“Get out of Mexico,” scrawled in graffiti outside the U.S. Embassy.

Locals call it Over-Tourism.

These neighborhoods with leafy streets and café culture are now gentrified by American digital nomads.  Since 2020, rents have soared, locals have been displaced, and resentment has reached a boiling point.  They feel their neighborhoods are changed so the government can make more money on tourists.

But Mexico is only a small portion of the Over Travel protests by locals.

Europe’s hot spots have its share of protests against tourists.

  • Barcelona: Protesters armed with water pistols sprayed tourists and plastered “Tourists Go Home” stickers on hotels and shops. The city hosted 26 million visitors last year—over 15 times its population.
  • Venice: Demonstrators disrupted Jeff Bezos’ wedding, accusing the billionaire of turning the city into a playground for the ultra-rich. Locals decried rising rents, environmental damage, and the loss of community.
  • Majorca & Ibiza: Tour buses were blocked, flares lit, and banners raised demanding “Less Tourism, More Life”
  • Even the Louvre in Paris shut down briefly due to overcrowding.

And it’s not just Europe. Over-Tourism protests are rising globally.

• Asia: While not yet seeing mass protests, cities like Kyoto, Bali, and Bangkok are quietly grappling with overtourism’s side effects—rising rents, cultural erosion, and environmental strain.
• Africa & Oceania: Safari destinations and island nations like Mauritius and New Zealand are beginning to implement visitor caps and sustainability fees to get ahead of the curve.

So, why is this happening?  We will break it down for you here plus: how to avoid it; how to endure it; places to go instead; and how Jetsetters can help relieve the problem.

My Drunken Aussie Experience at Oktoberfest

Personally, I have not faced recent Over-Tourism protests yet.  The nearest I came was in 1978 at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany when a street trolley was commandeered by a group of drunk Aussie men.  Fortunately, no one was hurt.  But the folks of Munich were not happy the next morning.  Granted, Oktoberfest only lasts for two weeks, so any local anger drops in October.  Still, today we are hearing a growing concern from Munich about the growing volume of visitors — 6.7 million in 2024 alone — with over 7 million liters of beer consumed.

Globally, this is happening because of a perfect storm of new tech, a yearning for travel, and the lack of local regulations that have not kept up with the changes. Here are the reasons we uncovered:

  • Cheap Flights and Cruises: budget airlines and mega-cuisine ships flood destinations with visitors.
  • Social Media Frenzy: Instagrammable spots become overcrowded overnight.
  • Short-Term Rentals: Airbnb and similar platforms reduce housing stock for locals.
  • Post-Pandemic Wanderlust: After lockdowns, global travel surged—often without infrastructure to match.
  • Lack of Regulation: Many cities weren’t ready for the volume and didn’t plan for sustainable growth.

Still, you could face Over-Tourism protests at any time. So, how do you travel smart and avoid these potentially tense situations?  You will need to use the tech that causes some of this to make you safe.  So, Before You Go:

  • Research Local Sentiment: Check local news and social media for signs of unrest.
  • Avoid Flashpoints: Skip neighborhoods like Condesa (Mexico City), Gràcia (Barcelona), or San Marco (Venice) if tensions are high.
  • Book Local, Not Disruptive: Choose hotels or regulated guesthouses over short-term rentals in residential zones.

However, if you arrive and face a protest, what do you do?

  • Stay Calm & Respectful: Don’t film or engage. Leave the area quickly and quietly.
  • Have a Backup Plan: Know alternate routes and safe zones.
  • Blend In: Dress modestly, speak softly, and avoid flashy displays of wealth.

Here is a video of a segment we did on the safety in Rome.

If you’re looking to explore without being caught in the crossfire of anti-tourism protests, there are incredible destinations that still welcome Jetsetters with open arms.

  • In Mexico, consider Mérida or Oaxaca, where rich Mayan and Zapotec culture, vibrant cuisine, and a strong sense of local pride offer a more authentic experience than tourist-saturated Mexico City.
  • In Spain, skip Barcelona and discover the coastal charm of Valencia or Cádiz, where the pace is slower and the hospitality warmer.
  • In Italy, go beyond Venice and Rome to Puglia and Umbria that both serve up rustic elegance, affordability, and culinary gold without the tour bus traffic.
  • In Europe, try the Balkans and the Adriatic Sea.  You will want to hit Albania and Montenegro, which we highly recommend.  We’ve seen their stunning Adriatic views, growing tourism infrastructure, and a sense that you’ve stumbled upon the Mediterranean of 30 years ago.
  • In Asia, Luang Prabang in Laos is a UNESCO-listed town that blends serene spirituality with a deep respect for sustainability.

In the long-term, there are other things Jetsetters can do to reduce the stress of over-travel in many popular destinations.

  • Travel Off-Season: Spread your footprint across the calendar. Avoid the Summer Travel Rush and try to book in Spring or Autumn. Check out our segments in Rome.  We were there in late October and early November.

More Jetsetter helpful hints:

  • Support Tourism Caps: Advocate for visitor limits in fragile destinations.
  • Push for Regulation: Encourage cities to regulate short-term rentals and cruise traffic.
  • Be a Cultural Ally: Learn the language basics, respect customs, and spend locally. Here is a video with one of our Rome experts who talked about getting to know Friendly Romans

See? Most places are still quite friendly and inclusive.

Remember, travel should be a bridge—not a bulldozer.

The world is still full of places that welcome you with open arms and open kitchens.

We want to be the travelers who are invited back.

After all, sipping sangria on a rooftop is better when the locals are smiling with you — not protesting below.

Give us your experiences on Over-Travel and any suggestions to keep the anger down and the travel, food, and booze flowing nicely.

John Daly and Susan Anzalone are the Co-Creators and Co-Hosts of Undercover Jetsetter, a show on travel, food, and booze. They show you how to jet set the world and at home. They also co-authored the book, The TV Studio In Your Hand: How to Shoot, Edit & Deliver the Easy Way on Your iPhone. Join them for tips and hacks on the road, at home, or in the kitchen, and all over the world.  And yes, as you will see, all on the iPhone. Susan is an expert in food and wine since her childhood days in Australia and then the United States, being the daughter of two lifelong employees of Pan Am Airlines.  John is also a world traveler starting when he studied in Italy through his alma mater Providence College.  John is also a Nevada Hall of Fame Broadcaster during his years as a Las Vegas news anchor at KTNV.  He gained international fame as the host of the first all-video news magazine show, Real TV while also securing his bartending and mixology credentials from the Harvard Bartending School. You can follow them here on the free Wingding app on the Food and Travel Channels, on YouTube, Facebook, X, and Instagram.

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