"Bye Bye Barcelona" rocked my previously underdeveloped perspective on overtourism. This film deals with the massive tourism issues Barcelona continues to face, from the threat of a monoculture to the ineffective legislation surrounding the industry. Tourism is not inherently bad. In the case of Barcelona - and all destinations for that matter - it is a matter of striking the balance between tourist influx/experience and preserving the culture and location that brought them there in the first place. "Bye Bye Barcelona" does a wonderful job of highlighting the concerns of local residents. From tourists invading residential, neighborly living spaces, to the closings of local businesses in favor of cookie-cutter souvenir shops and international restaurants, the lack of proper management of tourism has resulted in the degradation of co-existence. How can Barcelona find balance and authenticity?
