Understanding overtourism: What do Barcelona residents really think?

This study employs a mixed-methods approach to examine overtourism from a residents' perspective in Barcelona, a city where protests against overtourism have become increasingly common. It identifies four key dimensions shaping perceptions: crowding, lack of security, pollution, and price increases/gentrification. Crucially, the findings frame overtourism as a social phenomenon that goes beyond visitor numbers and physical congestion, encompassing broader socio-economic, political, and environmental dynamics. The study further highlights how age, political views, education, and economic dependence influence residents' attitudes. Results show that overtourism is socially constructed and context-dependent rather than defined by quantitative thresholds alone, challenging traditional carrying capacity models. In doing so, the study advances the academic conceptualization of overtourism and opens new avenues for research that examine it as a complex social phenomenon.