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Overtourism? Málaga Residents Post Anti-Tourism Stickers

Residents in Málaga on the Costa del Sol in Spain are posting stickers, fighting overtourism
Residents in Málaga on the Costa del Sol in Spain are posting stickers, fighting overtourism [Image by Enrique from Pixabay]
Since the birth of remote working during the recent pandemic, many people have traveled the world as digital nomads. It was recently declared that Málaga in southern Spain was the best city for remote workers, which has led to thousands of remote workers heading to the city. Meanwhile, as the city is being bombarded by overtourism, residents have had enough and are putting up stickers all over the city, telling them in no uncertain words to go home.

Locals fight overtourism in Málaga, Spain

Málaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol in southern Spain and is a remarkable historic city, full of art, history and culture. While the city was already popular with tourists, it was recently reported that the Andalucían city is the best in the world to live and work in. InterNations, an “expat community” that works to connect people living outside of their original countries.

Street in Málaga, Spain
Street in Málaga, Spain [Image by postcardtrip from Pixabay]
After a major survey was run among members, Málaga came up tops as the best city in the world in which to live and work. However, this has led to thousands of international digital nomads flocking to the city, as well as millions of international tourists. According to locals, it has all become too much for them to handle.

Much like other cities around the world, Málaga is suffering from overtourism, with residents plastering the city with anti-tourism stickers. Among the messages, Málaga’s city center features stickers reading “Get the f*ck out of here” and other strong negative messages to vacationers and international digital nomads alike.

https://twitter.com/DiarioSUR/status/1767849795589230744?s=20

English translation of X post:

#Málaga 📰 The Center is filled with anti-tourism stickers: “Get the hell out of here.” ✍ @ninaapin 📷 C. Pinto

According to Local.es, stickers also bear the following strong messages:

  • “This used to be my home” (antes esta era mi casa)
  • “Go f*cking home” (a tu puta casa)
  • “stinking of tourists” (apestando a turista)
  • “This used to be the city centre” (antes esto era el centro)
  • “Mayor you’re dead” (Alcalde tus muertos)

The hostile stickers can be seen on walls and doors in many parts of the capital of the Costa del Sol.

English translation of X post:

Before this was Centro, as this sticker next to several tourist flats says.

You walk the streets of #Málaga and it is practically impossible to find a residential building that does not have a lock and password.

But @pacodelatorrep continues without lifting a finger for the people of Malaga, expelling them from the city where they were born.

How did the anger start?

Calle Marquez de Larios, Malaga, Spain
Shopping mecca of Calle Marquez de Larios in Malaga [Image courtesy Anne Sewell]
Reportedly, the sticker initiative was started by a local bar owner, Dani Drunko, who runs a popular bar in Málaga called Drunk-O-Rama Cafe Bar. He went on to select the most-liked anti-tourism slogans from his followers and customers and created the stickers that now adorn the city center.

Speaking to local news service, Diario Sur, Drunko said he started the campaign after being “kicked out” of the home he has lived in for ten years. His landlords had refused to negotiate on the rent or to sell him the property as they wanted to turn it into a more remunerative short-term vacation rental.

“There’s a lot of hype because locals are tired of the situation; I just suggested the idea of ​​the catchphrases, I offered the spark, and now others have joined,” Drunko explained, adding:

Málaga city centre has been going downhill for a long time, so much so that if for example something in my bar breaks, I don’t have a hardware store on hand to buy anything, since the tourist who comes doesn’t need to buy screws.

Moreover, Drunko is not alone in losing his home to tourism, as many apartment blocks in the city have become vacation rentals as can be seen from the posts on X.

International tourist numbers soar in Málaga

In 2023, the Costa del Sol, where Málaga is located, received a record number of 14 million national and international vacationers. However, the city is now so popular that many travelers are choosing to move there.

https://twitter.com/TheNorskaPaul/status/1768734399091073183?s=20

According to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), eight of every 10 new residents moving to the city are foreigners. Besides this, 630 tech companies, including Google, have set up shop in Málaga in recent years. Meanwhile, this has virtually turned the Costa del Sol city into the “Silicon Valley” of Europe. Moreover, the main reasons for attracting remote workers are the city’s cosmopolitan working environment and excellent quality of life in the warm sunshine.

While the Costa del Sol has never shied away from attracting tourists, it seems that Málaga is suffering from its own success. It has led to “Malagueños” (locals) becoming angry that they are being priced out of their home city.

 

 

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