Residents in popular tourist areas are reported to be using a range of unconventional methods to discourage visitors as concerns about overtourism grow. One outlet describes people preparing cold buckets of water to deter tourists, while another cites similar “stealthy” or low-profile approaches, including direct harassment tactics such as squirting water.
The articles frame these actions as a form of local pushback against what they characterize as overtourism, but they do not provide consistent details on location, scale, or official responses. The Daily Mail and Mail Online largely align on the general theme and examples, focusing on disruptive street-level behavior attributed to residents. However, neither source’s description clarifies whether authorities are investigating, whether the tactics are widespread, or how authorities and tourism operators respond. The reporting primarily emphasizes anecdotes and imagery of protest-like behavior rather than measured policy outcomes.
Overall, the outlets converge on the idea that some residents are taking direct, sometimes confrontational steps to limit tourist presence, reflecting broader tensions between visitor flows and local life.
