You don’t have to wander too far off the beaten path in Barcelona to find an anti-tourist message daubed on a wall.
“Tourists go home” is the most common refrain, usually delivered in block capitals and black spray paint, although the singular and more personal variant is almost as prevalent. Another alternative is “tourists go home, refugees welcome”.
The steps and walls leading towards the Unesco-listed Park Guell – a popular tourist trail with Antoni Gaudi’s city on the hill serving as its destination point – are daubed with the words “mass tourism kills our city” and the unsettling and thankfully unheeded “let’s lynch the tourists”. These messages appear with rhythmic cadence, but it would be wrong to say they are ubiquitous.
This weekend marks seven years since the August 2017 terror attacks on La Rambla in the centre of the city and a nearby coastal town, which killed 16 people and injured more than 100 more. The attacks were claimed by ISIS and prompted short-term concern that visitors may stay away from the city for months and years to come.
In the event, the extraordinary show of solidarity by residents and officials and their powerful “we are not afraid” message brought tourists back in record numbers. Barcelona hosted more than 20 million visitors in 2019, a peak before the once in a lifetime trough of 2020 when the world stood still and stayed home. Last year, more than 25 million visitors made an overnight stay in Barcelona and its environs.
More than 30 years after Barcelona hosted one of the great Olympic Games of the late 20th Century – delivering an event devoid of the tragedy, financial ruin, boycotts and scandals that had visited the previous five summer games – the city’s energy and its enviable portfolio of cultural assets act as an inviting beacon to the world.
Reuters reported this month that Spain received 42.5 million international visitors in the first six months of the year, putting it on track to equal or exceed last year’s record-breaking figure of 85 million visitors, given the third-quarter peak period of the year was still to come.
While Spain’s coastal resorts have almost always swelled with visitors during the summer months, Barcelona and Madrid now act as year-round cultural lodestars and the airports in both cities are among the busiest in Europe. Cruise ships disperse thousands of tourists every day into Barcelona in peak times, making it one of the most popular cruising destinations worldwide.
The city made global headlines last month when anti-tourism demonstrators took to the streets to fire water pistols at visitors who were sitting at outdoor cafes.
It was a damp squib demonstration and an almost comical form of protest, but it pushed its way on to summer news agendas. The protest was accompanied by demonstrators holding cardboard placards high in the air, which bore the same messages referenced earlier in this column. Estimates vary as to how many people took part, but the message was emphatically delivered.
Talk to those who live in Barcelona and they will offer their own view on how those graffiti messages and protests don’t speak for everyone and more likely express the views of a minority, an opinion regularly reinforced by the cafes and stores that unreservedly welcome visitors through their doors, sometimes only metres away from some spray-painted wall or other.
By several measures, Barcelona is operating close to the cutting edge of mitigating the worst effects of over-tourism, including acknowledgment by officials that change needs to come, although the protesters clearly believe it's not arriving fast enough.
Graffiti messages and protests don’t speak for everyone and more likely express the views of a minority
The location of the main cruise terminal has moved away from the city centre, in recognition of the disruption its presence can cause to local residents. The move also reduces the amount of leisure ships that can dock at any given time.
Hotel guests are charged a tourism tax, although the counter argument to such fiscal regimes is that relatively small charges will only deter the few. They do at least pay for something, however, be that street furniture, cleaning services or educational signage.
Barcelona’s major attractions also tightly control their visitor numbers and strongly advise people to book in advance, meaning “sold out” signs at places such as La Sagrada Familia are more common than those “tourists go home” placards.
That doesn’t stop thousands milling around outside the city’s prized attractions, but it does mean that queues don’t snake forlornly past apartment blocks.
It is in those same residential buildings that one of the keys to the over-tourism crisis may be found.
Earlier this year, the city’s Mayor, Jaume Collboni, said thousands of short-term rental licences would not be renewed when they expire in 2028, potentially returning these dwellings to the long-term market and allowing citizens to go back to city living after being priced out by Airbnb-style rentals to tourists. That is the hope, at least, although doubts persist as to whether this will deliver the necessary course correction.
If balance does return to the market then harmony may also prevail. Jobs, livelihoods and, perhaps, the future of an entire industry depend on that equilibrium being found – not just in Barcelona but in several other cities around the world that exist on the frontline of mass tourism.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Jetour T1 specs
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Torque: 390Nm
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
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Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
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More from Neighbourhood Watch
Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community
• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style
“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.
Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term.
From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”
• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International
"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed. Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."
• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."
• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com
"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.
His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.
Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."
• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher
"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen. He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”
• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."
Usain Bolt's World Championships record
2007 Osaka
200m Silver
4x100m relay Silver
2009 Berlin
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2011 Daegu
100m Disqualified in final for false start
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2013 Moscow
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2015 Beijing
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
