Thousands of protesters flooded Barcelona's streets this weekend, rallying against mass tourism.

Demonstrators, estimated between 2,800 to 15,000, marched under the slogan "Enough! Let's set limits on tourism!" Tensions escalated as some activists sprayed unsuspecting diners with water pistols and symbolically cordoned off restaurant terraces.

Locals blame tourism for skyrocketing rents, which have surged 68% in the past decade.

Barcelona, which hosted nearly 16 million visitors last year, now plans to ban short-term vacation rentals by 2028. Similar protests have erupted in other Spanish hotspots, including Mallorca and Tenerife, as Spain grapples with being the world's second most popular tourist destination.