Overtourism, Social Unrest and Tourismphobia. A controversial debate

The paper shares some reflections of the debates emerging from the political propaganda, social movements and neighborhood associations complaints. The paper takes into account the impact that overtourism, social unrest and tourismphobia have had on the media agenda. These insights are based on the hypothesis that these developments are neither a new nor recent phenomena. Beyond that, the research focuses on elements that have awakened social unrest and triggered the amplification of these debates. Finally, the paper analyzes some strategies referred to as the 5D (deseasonalization, decongestion, decentralization, diversification, deluxe tourism), which are being promoted as an analytical tool to unpack the complexities and current developments unfolding overtourism. Ethnographic and quantitative research conducted in the city of Barcelona informs this study