Laurence Dollimore
TOURISTS have been branded a ‘plague’ by locals in southern Spain ahead of a huge planned protest this weekend.
Malaga lawyer Luis Navarrete took to X to blast how a once traditional cafe in the centre of the city is now called ‘John Scott’s’.
He wrote: “Our central cafe is now called John Scotts and at 11am it stinks of guiris and pints of beer.
“They have destroyed our identity, they have prostituted everything they could in our city. This deserves a change.”
Guiri is a term used to describe typically British or other northern European tourists.
It comes ahead of a ‘historic’ protest in the centre of Malaga city, which is due to take place from 11.30am on June 29.
Protesters are being urged to gather on Plaza de la Merced this Saturday where they are expected to hold up banners and chant anti-tourism slogans.
Other locals responded to Navarrete’s post, with one branding ‘guiris’ a ‘plague’.
Jesus Toboada wrote: “The centre of Granada reeks of bars with menus in English.
“Instead of traditional bars with tapas and bocadillos, burger joints, sushi restaurants and shops selling turron in the middle of summer are proliferating.
“The guiris are spitting on the locals in their own city.”
Turron is a nougat treat that is traditionally enjoyed during the Christmas season across Spain.
But shops solely selling the treat all year round are popping up in tourist hotspots – and are often seen by locals as a sign of gentrification and a result of ‘excessive tourism.’
Luka Trinidad, from Cadiz, wrote on X that his city ‘is also suffering this plague.’
Please don’t class all Brits the same, the majority embrace the Spanish culture, language, people and food. Personally, I do not want British food whilst in Spain, why would I when Spain has so much to offer?
We come to Spain for a few weeks every year and stay away from tourist areas. We like to embrace the culture and history of the places and people we visit, use local shops and restaurants and believe in putting back into the local community.
It’s too late. For years it was fine allowing gangsters into Andalucia, buying property and flaunting their wealth. The politicians and locals encouraged it. The crime is now out of control.
I don’t hear about the locals protesting about the areas prostitution problem. All these South Americans from Colombia and Venezuela aiding the criminality in the area. A lot are squatting in apartments and assist the criminals.
High end restaurants and bars are full of them showing off their fake chests! It’s tacky.
Please get your priorities right and return Andalucia /Spain to being a safe destination for all.
Es demasiado tarde. Durante años estuvo bien permitir que los gánsteres entraran en Andalucía, compraran propiedades y hicieran alarde de su riqueza. Los políticos y los lugareños lo alentaron. El crimen ahora está fuera de control. No escucho que los lugareños protesten por el problema de la prostitución en la zona. Todos estos sudamericanos de Colombia y Venezuela ayudando a la criminalidad en la zona. Muchos ocupan apartamentos y ayudan a los delincuentes. ¡Los restaurantes y bares de lujo están llenos de ellas mostrando sus pechos falsos! Es de mal gusto. Por favor, establezca sus prioridades correctamente y haga que Andalucía/España vuelva a ser un destino seguro para todos.
I first visited Spain many years ago and have been a very regular visitor to The Costa del Sol and Mallorca over the last ten years.
Increased tourism has become very obvious during this time but you can’t blame British and other European tourists for the high rise hotels ,cheap food outlets and Airbnb.
The government in Spain has actively encouraged this and many Spaniards will have become very rich because of it.
I have stayed in flats but prefer to find small Hostals for a more authentic experience.
We love going local tapas bars and supporting the local economy and not the major chains.
I was shocked when staying in the parador in Rhonda on the main square there was a McDonalds and the lovely cafe in Constitution Square in Malaga is now a John Scott’s Pub. Horrendous !
Who allowed the trading licences to go through for them it wasn’t tourists.
So please lovely people of Spain don’t label all “gruiris “a plague
I agree that you have problems with over tourism and lack of housing but frightening people about coming to Spain will just cause problems of a different kind with unemployment and empty property becoming derelict.
I hope that your government can take appropriate action to bring some control moving forward.
Sadly the government has never seen a project that they are interested in allowing to be developed. They have nobody to blame but themselves. Follow the money .