Barcelona anti-tourist water gun protests highlight short-term rental control needs: Esperance tourism manager

The wave of anti-tourist water gun demonstrations in Barcelona highlight how important controls for short-term rental accommodation are, according to the executive of Esperance’s tourism body. Earlier this month close to 3000 locals in Spain’s most-visited city took to the streets armed with water pistols in a public display of their frustration with the masses of tourists who travel there each year. The crowds chanted “tourists go home” and “Barcelona is not for sale” as they squirted water at the city’s visitors. Australia’s Golden Outback’s Esperance tourism development manager Annabelle Hender said the demonstrations point to the importance of responsible tourism management. “The recent Barcelona protests highlight the need for a sustainable model for tourism management,” she said in a statement. “By prioritising community wellbeing, we can ensure visitors continue to have positive experiences, ensuring our town can continue to benefit from the value of tourism in the future.” Ms Hender highlighted that among other things, protesters called for action on short-term rental accommodation exacerbating the housing crisis. “In regional destinations, STRA plays a crucial role in tourism by increasing accommodation capacity, offering unique and authentic visitor experiences, and providing supplementary income for locals,” she said. “The popularity of STRA has surged in recent years with companies like Airbnb transforming the tourism industry. “Yet demand for short-term rentals — among other factors — have led to residential housing shortages, and rising costs, prompting governments to regulate the sector.” Some areas of NSW have a 180-day annual limit for hosting in STRA, a 7.5 per cent tax is set to be introduced in Victoria, and Brisbane will require Airbnb permits. Ms Hender said the WA Government’s regulation was among the “most attractive” initiatives in Australia. She pointed out that the WA STRA Incentive Scheme is set to provide a $10,000 payment to property owners who switch their STRA investment properties into long-term rentals. The WA Government’s STRA register opened on July 1 and will become mandatory for all STRA providers on January 1, 2025, with registration needing to be renewed each year. Registrations made before the end of September will avoid the $250 fee.