From cold buckets of water to fake signs: The stealthy ways locals are fighting back against overtourism

Published: 09:43 EDT, 29 September 2026 | Updated: 09:54 EDT, 29 September 2026 Overtourism is a growing problem across popular destinations in Europe, such as Italy and Spain, and some locals are taking things into their own hands. Rome draws in millions of visitors a year with its iconic landmarks and good food, but it isn't such a positive place to be for its residents. Simonetta Marcellini, 74, was born and raised in the city and has seen it change as more tourists pile in each season. From rowdy behaviour at night to local shops being replaced by bars and cafes, the retired medical radiographer has had enough.But instead of lining the streets, as seen at protests across Spain in recent years, she's taken to putting three buckets of water along her window each night.Should any tourists create problems for her, or behave in a rowdy manner, her solution is simple, yet effective: she throws water at them.The Italian lives in an apartment in Trastevere, a popular neighbourhood located along the River Tiber, and finds her nights are occasionally disrupted by loud Britons and Americans. Italian resident Simonetta Marcellini, 74, lines up water buckets ready to pour on pesky tourists from her home in Trastevere'At first I'm polite, and I point out to them that it is the early hours of the morning and that people will be sleeping,' Ms Marcellini told The i Paper. 'I point out everything that might be going on inside the buildings, and all the difficulties that families living on these streets might face. Some get up early in the morning to go to work, some have a sick relative at home, some have babies, all of which must be respected.'However, if the tourists fail to listen to Ms Marcellini's polite requests and argue back or insult her, she admitted: 'I pour water on them.'And she isn't alone on her mission.In 2019, Ms Marcellini started a group called Comitato Emergenza Trastevere, which now has around 1,000 local members who all meet regularly to discuss the issues and possible solutions. A number of residents have even taken up her water bucket tactic themselves.Over in Spain, some activists took to firing water pistols at tourists in Barcelona last year.Protesters marched through popular tourist zones holding placards and squirting passing sightseers with water pistols in the latest show of anger at overtourism. Protesters in Barcelona squirting water guns at tourists eating in popular spots in the city last yearMark Meader, vice-president of the US ASTA travel association, told representatives at a summit in Jaén, Andalusia, that scenes of activists firing water pistols at tourists had even discouraged some Americans from visiting Barcelona.'Some Americans have been afraid to go to Barcelona because they thought they were going to be shot with a water pistol,' he said.Other anti-tourism tactics include putting fake warning signs up to deter visitors in Mallorca.Responsible Travel reported how in the early 2020s, activist group Caterva installed signs on beaches written in English. They contained warnings of dangers such as 'jellyfish' and 'falling rocks'.However, underneath the English words was an explanation written in Spanish that the signs were to put off tourists and there were in fact no dangers to be worried about.