Skift Take
Barcelona has to convince locals it can adequately balance community needs with being a host for mass tourism events.
Thousands of locals in Barcelona took to the streets on Sunday to demand that the city stop hosting the America’s Cup and other large tourism events.
Under the slogan “America’s Cup, never again,” the demonstration began at Plaça de Correus. Police blocked the protestors from accessing the event’s fan zone. The finals of the America’s Cup, an international sailing competition, began on October 12 and will conclude on October 20.
Some protesters chanted, “Your boats raise our rents,” “[Mayor] Collboni, give us back our money,” and “Barcelona is not for sale.” The demonstration featured protesters wearing masks of Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni and Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, a sponsor of the sailing comp