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TOURISM

‘Get the f*ck out of here’: Spain’s Málaga plastered with anti-tourism stickers

Málaga city centre is being emblazoned with stickers demanding tourists “go f*cking home” as locals in the Costa del Sol city struggle with the negative consequences of its exploding popularity among holidaymakers and foreign digital nomads.

Published: 13 March 2024 11:48 CET
'Get the f*ck out of here': Spain's Málaga plastered with anti-tourism stickers
Since the advent of remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of international remote workers have flocked to Málaga, along with millions of foreign holidaymakers. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)

“This used to be my home” (antes esta era mi casa) , “go f*cking home” (a tu puta casa), “stinking of tourist” (apestando a turista), “this used to be the city centre” (antes esto era el centro) and “Your dead loved ones, mayor” (Alcalde tus muertos) are some of the hostile messages recently adorning walls and doors in the Andalusian city of Málaga. 

This “sticker initiative” was started by local bar owner Dani Drunko who runs a well-known bar in Málaga called Drunkorama, and who selected some of the most liked anti-tourism slogans from his followers and made them into stickers that now decorate Málaga city centre.

Drunko told local daily Diario Sur that he began the campaign after he was “kicked out” of the home he’d been living in for ten years, with the landlords refusing to negotiate the rent or sell him the property because they wanted to turn it into a short-term tourism rental. 

“There’s a lot of hype because locals are tired of the situation; I just suggested the idea of ​​the catchphrases, I offered the spark, and now others have joined,” Drunko added about how other campaign groups such as GuirisGoHome taking part as well. 

READ ALSO: Is the Spanish word ‘guiri’ (foreigner) offensive?

“Málaga city centre has been going downhill for a long time, so much so that if for example something in my bar breaks, I don’t have a hardware store on hand to buy anything, since the tourist who comes doesn’t need to buy screws”.

The Local Spain’s reporter Esme Fox, who last November wrote the article “Why Spain’s Málaga is becoming a victim of its own success”, has recently experienced the change to the Andalusian city first-hand.

“It’s definitely busier than before during low season,” Fox explains.

“A few years ago I visited in August and it was busy as expected, but this time I visited in January and at night it seemed to be just as packed. It was just a regular Wednesday night and it’s as though a festival was taking place given the sheer amount of people in the streets and spilling out of bars.

“There are lockboxes for tourists to self-check at practically every building in the centre! 

“Prices have also increased significantly with regards to food. Tapas in Málaga city were more expensive than what I’m used to paying in Barcelona where I live.”

Spain’s Costa del Sol, where Málaga is located, received a record 14 million national and international holidaymakers in 2023, but its popularity is such that many foreigners are choosing to move there.

Eight out of 10 new residents moving to Málaga are currently foreigners, according to recent data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE).

Google and 630 other tech companies have set up shop in Málaga in recent years as well, turning the city into the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Europe and drawing thousands of international remote workers and digital nomads for its combination of cosmopolitan work environment and quality of life under the sun.

Málaga is certainly going places, but as evidenced by this latest anti-tourism campaign, malagueños are angry about the fact that they’re being priced out and alienated from their home city.

READ ALSO: ‘Beach closed’: Fake signs put up in Spain’s Mallorca to dissuade tourists

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CULTURE

The best new Spanish TV series to binge-watch

Looking to improve your language skills while getting hooked on the most engrossing Spanish TV shows? Here are the most bingeable made-in-Spain series from 2023 and 2024 to watch on TV or stream.

Published: 7 May 2024 10:33 CEST
The best new Spanish TV series to binge-watch

The Asunta Case

A true-crime-inspired story on Netflix, the Asunta Case was just released at the end of April, but already has some fans. It tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who goes missing and the search to find her. Soon, the trail leads to her adoptive parents, who are accused of being involved with her disappearance and the story takes an even darker turn. 

Berlín

A spin-off of the highly successful Casa de Papel or Money Heist in English. It follows one of the characters, Berlín and is a kind of prequel in that it tells the story of his criminal career before we get to know him in Casa de Papel. It takes place in Paris, where a gang of endearing Spanish criminals, led by Berlín, make a plan to steal €44 million worth of precious jewels. Some fans complained that Casa de Papel dragged on too long and got a bit ridiculous towards the end, but have been very enthusiastic about this one.

Cristóbal Balenciaga

Poligots will enjoy this new series from Disney+, which is originally in Spanish, Basque and French. It tells the story of world-famous Basque fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga and how he aims to present his first haute couture collection in Paris. It stars Spanish actor Alberto San Juan as the lead role, but international audiences will more than likely recognise Gemma Whelan who played Yara Greyjoy in the hit series Game of Thrones.

La Mesías

Spanish newspaper El Diario named La Mesías as its top series for 2023, beating a total of 43 it reviewed. It’s showing on Movistar+ and is part thriller and part drama. It tells the tale of Enric who had a traumatic childhood controlled by his overly religious mother and whose life is heavily impacted by a viral video of a Christian pop band made up of five sisters.

Machos Alfa

Translated as Alpha Males in English, this Netflix series first came out at the end of 2022, but the second season recently premiered in February 2024. It’s a comedy, following a group of four friends in their 40s who start to feel lost in this new society of feminists and empowered women and start to question their masculinity and the way they should act with women. 

Las Noches de Tefía

Created by Miguel del Arco, who co-wrote and co-directed the series, Las Noches de Tefía is available on ATRESPlayer PREMIUM. It’s set inside a Francoist concentration camp on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura, a place where vagabonds, protestors of the regime, and homosexuals are sent.

El Inmortal

El Inmortal is available on Movistar+ and first came out in 2022. It was renewed for a second season which was recently released at the end of February 2024. It takes place in the 90s, during the time when gangs controlled Madrid’s nightclub scene and were involved in cocaine trafficking. The story follows Los Miamis a criminal organisation led by José Antonio, better known as El Inmortal, who becomes one of the city’s most successful drug lords. It’s based on the real life Los Miami gang and their leader Juan Carlos Peña.

Déjate Ver 

This Spanish and Catalan series available on Atresplayer was called “the hidden gem of the year” by newspaper El Diario and is a quirky comedy about Ana, an artist’s assistant who who has begun to disappear. After receiving a diagnosis from the doctor she realises that if she doesn’t want to continue disappearing she must completely change her life around.

Nacho

Another from Atresplayer, Nacho reveals the secrets of the Spanish porn industry during the 90s. It’s set in Barcelona and follows title character Nacho, from his religious upbringing to his rise, becoming one of the most recognisable and influential figures in the adult film industry in the country. It’s based on the real life story of Ignacio Jordà González, better known as Nacho Vidal, one of Spain’s most famous pornographic actors and directors.

Los Farad

Set in Marbella during the 80s, Los Farad follows Oskar, a young man with the dream of setting up his own gym. It stars Miguel Herrán, who was also in two of the most popular Spanish series in recent years – Money Heist and Elite. He’s given the opportunity to come into some money by going to live with his girlfriend’s family in the Costa del Sol, but in return has to be part of the family business, which turns out is somewhat akin to the mafia. It’s available on Amazon Prime and first came out in December 2023. 

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