Beautiful European city 'can't cope' with tourist numbers and now has 'no-go zones'

People in Valencia say there are some parts of their city they can't visit anymore due to the number of tourists flocking there all year round.

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain and lies on the sunny eastern coast. It is estimated that 2.2million people visit every year, drawn in by its beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage.

Recently however, people who live there say the city's tourism has transformed. Whereas before it was seasonal, with people only visiting during certain months, now they say Valencia is rammed 12 months a year.

The issue was raised in a recent Reddit post, in the r/Valencia subreddit, when one resident asked: "Now that summer is almost here, I want to know what you think about seasonal tourism in Valencia.

"I mean, how does it affect the daily lives of the residents? Do you think Valencia can receive more tourists or are there already too many?"

One person said in response: "I think that precisely one of the biggest problems is that tourism has become seasonally adjusted in Valencia. Before, a few years ago, you knew that from April-May you were not going to be able to go near the centre or Ciutat Vella because everything was going to be packed with people, and that's it. Now, it's year-round, and it's a nightmare."

They added that there are some places in their city they "don't go to anymore" because they are always "packed with people". They also complained about "traditional shops" making way for "souvenir shops", "generic chains" and "fast food places".

Echoing that sentiment, a second resident said: "As other people have said, the problem is that tourism is no longer just in the summer. The port area (and if you go through the cabin) it is impossible to walk without hearing English on every corner, seeing groups of tourists with bikes that occupy the entire street and the tourist flats that drive out the traditional businesses in the area. Not to mention the rude drunks who occupy the terraces."

A third suggested the problem lies with rental properties being bought up in working class neighbourhoods. They said: "I wish it were seasonal, there has never been a problem with tourists coming in August, they come, they eat, they leave. Now it is a year-round massification, a city full of Airbnbs, which are already beginning to invade even the working class neighbourhoods."

They said this has become both "unsustainable" and "unbearable". "We average young Valencians have normalised not having a place to live and that is very sad," they concluded.

Authorities now seem to be attempting to tackle the issue. Back in June, Valencia City Council unanimously voted to freeze giving licences for tourist flats for a 12-month period. This freeze will mean that tourists are unable to temporarily rent an apartment within a block that is typically used by residents.