Barcelona attracts millions of holidaymakers each year for its sun-soaked beach front and bustling nightlife, but some locals are growing fed up with tourists.<br /><br />In late July, a group of masked men targeted an open-top tour bus, slashing its tires and scrawling graffiti onto its sides. Some terrified tourists on board first thought it was a terror attack.<br /><br />The message, in Catalan, read “Tourism Kills neighbourhoods”. The action was claimed by a group of radical leftists affiliated to the separatist Catalan political party, the Candidatura d’Unitat Popular (CUP; Popular Unity Candidacy).<br /><br />Their actions appear to be gaining momentum across Spain.<br /><br />Is Barcelona trying play down news of anti-tourism attack last week? https://t.co/INFjrTShaY— El País in English (@elpaisinenglish) August 1, 2017<br /><br />A radical group that has attacked a tourist bus used by British visitors in Barcelona has now struck in Majorca https://t.co/ag8OsbqnQV pic.twitter.com/FUJqDF88sA— The Times of London (@thetimes) August 2, 2017<br /><br />Flares and confetti<br /><br />This week in Mallorca, youths stormed a restaurant on the Marina, armed with… red flares and confetti.<br /><br />Restaurant manager Carmen Sanchez Solano said several customers were having dinner when a group of people came carrying banners.<br /><br />“We thought it was a small demonstration,” she said. “They threw coloured smoke bombs into the restaurant. Several girls wearing masks attacked the customers.”<br /><br />Arran, the radical movement behind the attacks, has been vocal about the impact the mass travel industry is having on locals’ quality of life.<br /><br />“We want to denounce the destruction of the territory and the exploitation of the working class by the hotel industry,” said Pau Pico, Arran’s spokesman in Mallorca.<br /><br />“In no case was the action violent – banners were displayed, confetti was thrown .. And we’ve planned a series of actions throughout the summer”.<br /><br />As in Barcelona, many in Mallorca seem to have become allergic to tourists – even as the island lives off the industry.<br /><br />Arran protesta contra la masificación turística en Palma https://t.co/5IzDzEcZoM pic.twitter.com/9V3yRhJI6n— Diario de Mallorca (@diariomallorca) 1 de agosto de 2017<br /><br />Aparecen pintadas en Blanquerna contra los pisos turísticos https://t.co/VK6GLsFPRd— Diario de Mallorca (@diariomallorca) 3 de agosto de 2017<br />
