Valencia residents under siege from drunk tourists | kbnmart

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Residents of Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, say tourist numbers have become “unsustainable” and “unbearable”, with the streets packed with visitors year-round.

Located on Spain’s sunny east coast, Valencia attracts an estimated 2.2 million visitors a year with its stunning beaches and rich cultural heritage. However, locals have seen a shift in the dynamics of its tourism. Previously, the influx of tourists was seasonal, but now Valencia is busy all year round.

This issue was highlighted in a recent Reddit post on the r/Valencia subreddit, where a resident asked for their opinions on the impact of seasonal tourism on the daily lives of residents.

“I think one of the biggest problems in particular is that tourism has become seasonal in Valencia,” complained one participant. “A few years ago, you knew that from April to May you couldn’t go near the city centre or Ciutat Vella because everything would be packed with people, and that was it. Now it’s year-round, and it’s a nightmare.”

They added that there were areas they “no longer go to” because they were “crowded with people” and lamented the loss of “traditional stores” to “souvenir shops”, “general chains” and “fast food places”.

One local expressed his frustration with this, writing: “As others have said, the problem is that tourism is no longer confined to the summer. It is impossible to walk through the port area (and if you pass through the cabin) without hearing English spoken on every corner, groups of tourists on bicycles taking up the entire street, and tourist apartments crowding out traditional businesses in the area. Not to mention the rude drunks occupying the balconies.”

A third resident pointed out that the problem is buying rental properties in working-class areas. “I wish it was seasonal,” he said. “There was never a problem with tourists coming in August. They come, eat and leave. Now the city is expanding year-round, and it’s full of Airbnb homes, which are already starting to invade even working-class neighborhoods.”

They claimed that the situation had become “unsustainable” and “unbearable.” Their poignant conclusion was: “We ordinary young Valencians have become accustomed to not having a place to live, and this is very sad.”

In an attempt to address the issue, Valencia’s city council voted unanimously in June to freeze the issuance of licenses for tourist apartments for 12 months. The freeze means that tourists are unable to temporarily rent an apartment in a building normally used by residents.