Spain anti-tourism protests spark fears for Brits as travel agents warn of ‘crazy extremists’ and ‘serious violent incidents’
SPANISH anti-tourist protesters have sparked fears British holidaymakers will be caught up in "serious violent incidents".
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy branded the left-wing activists "crazy extremists" after they targeted tourists in a series of protests, which are spreading across the country.
Rafael Gallego, chair of the Spanish Association of Travel Agents (Feaav), branded the protesters "fascists" and said their actions could get worse.
He said: “This tourismphobia has been worrying us since last summer. In 2016 we noted graffiti and there was an aggression with a glass against tourists who were on an excursion, so we alerted that the situation could radicalise, which is what we have seen.
“Now there are protests in the entrances of hotels, restaurants and in ports.
“The danger is that tomorrow there could be an incident of real violence.
“They call themselves left-wing but they are more fascist than the far right. We are very worried that they might cause a serious incident with our visitors at any day.”
Mr Gallego defended the tourist industry, saying: “It is the sector which has recovered the greatest numbers of jobs since the crisis."
This summer four hooded activists from a radical group called Arran attacked a tourist bus in Barcelona, slashing tyres and spraying slogans across it.
Others have thrown eggs at hotels, and there have been demonstrations around the city’s famous Sagrada Familia basilica.
In Palma, Majorca, they set off smoke flares outside a seafront restaurant, while in Bilbao, northern Spain, another group sprayed paint across the headquarters of the Basque Country tourist board on Wednesday.
The groups claim tourism is destroying Spanish cities, driving up rent and forcing out young people.
On Tuesday PM Mariano Rajoy defended the tourism industry, which employs 2.5 million people in Spain.
He called the activists “radical extremists” and said it was “crazy” to drive away tourists.
On Thursday, Mr Rajoy reiterated his support for the industry, saying it was “senseless madness” to attack tourism.
He added: “I never thought I would have to defend the Spanish tourism industry. It’s completely outrageous.”
In Barcelona, where anger has been brewing for some time, tourists thought they were under attack from terrorists this week, when masked men attacked their open top bus.
Laura Flores, 24, one of the leaders of the group, called Arran, told : “We cannot rule out more attacks. There have been assaults in the past and there will be more in the future.”
The group says that mass tourism is spoiling Spain, and pushing locals out by driving up rental prices.
Even graffiti in the city has turned menacing with one slogan, featuring a black silhouette with a red target on its head, reads: "Why call it tourist season if we can't shoot them?"
There is concerns that the violence could spread.
A video emerged of masked Arran activists setting off flares outside a restaurant full of tourists on the island of Palma de Majorca. They then entered the restaurant and threw confetti at frightened diners.
Youth activists are also planning a protest in San Sebastian, northern Spain, later this month.
Rajoy described the activists as "extremists going against common sense".
Tourism makes up 12 percent of Spain's economy, and visitors to the country jumped 12 percent in the first half of 2017 to 36.4 million.
The backlash has sparked concerns for one of the region's biggest economic drivers and prompted authorities to act.
Rome is considering limiting visitor numbers to parts of the eternal city, such as the Trevi fountain. Dubrovnik plans to limit cruise ships.
Barcelona is planning a new tourism tax.
In Venice last month, residents marched through a throng of visitor to protest against uncontrolled tourism. They did so behind a banner: "My future is Venice".
Of the protests in Spain, a spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware and monitoring the situation. We are also in contact with the local authorities. There is no specific update to our travel guidance but we keep it under constant review.”
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