Fact Check: Protests against mass tourism occurred in Lisbon, Portugal, on October 1, 2023, where activists carried a handmade effigy of the city’s patron saint to the site of a future five-star hotel.

Fact Check: Protests Against Mass Tourism in Lisbon on October 1, 2023

What We Know

On October 1, 2023, protests against mass tourism took place in Lisbon, Portugal. Activists carried a handmade effigy of the city's patron saint from his namesake church to the site of a future five-star hotel. This event was part of a broader movement across southern Europe, where similar protests were organized in cities like Barcelona and Genoa, highlighting the negative impacts of overtourism on local communities (source-2).

The protests aimed to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of mass tourism, including rising housing costs and environmental degradation, which many locals attribute to the influx of tourists (source-6). Activists argue that the current tourism model prioritizes profits over the well-being of local residents, leading to a decline in quality of life for those living in tourist-heavy areas (source-4).

Analysis

The claim regarding the protests in Lisbon is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The New York Times reported specifically on the Lisbon protests, noting the carrying of the effigy as a symbolic act against the development of luxury hotels at the expense of local communities (source-2). This aligns with the broader narrative of coordinated protests across southern Europe, where activists are increasingly vocal about the adverse effects of mass tourism.

The reliability of the sources is high, particularly as the New York Times is a well-established news outlet known for its rigorous journalistic standards. Other sources, such as Yahoo News and The Guardian, also corroborate the events and sentiments expressed during these protests, further reinforcing the accuracy of the claim (source-5, source-6).

While some sources focus on the broader implications of these protests, they consistently reference the specific actions taken in Lisbon, including the carrying of the effigy, which serves as a poignant symbol of local resistance against the commodification of their cultural heritage.

Conclusion

The claim that protests against mass tourism occurred in Lisbon on October 1, 2023, where activists carried a handmade effigy of the city’s patron saint to the site of a future five-star hotel, is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms the occurrence of these protests and the specific actions taken by the activists involved.

Sources

1. Custom Report Excerpts
2. Anti-Tourism Protests in Italy, Portugal and Spain Draw Attention to ...
3. Traveling to Europe? Here's What to Expect From Tourism ...
4. Anti-tourism protests break out in Spain, Italy and Portugal
5. Campaigners mount coordinated protests across Europe ...
6. The tourist protests in Spain, Portugal and Italy explained - Yahoo News UK
7. Anti-tourism protests break out in Spain, Italy and Portugal
8. Anti-tourism protests erupt across Europe as locals say ... - LBC