Clue Challenge Day #42: Locals Are Spraying Tourists With Water Guns. Which Country Has Had Enough?

One country. Five clues. 94 million visitors. Protests in 40+ cities. A tourism boom turning into a political crisis.

For decades, this country was the dream destination.

Sun-soaked beaches. Historic cities. Island escapes. Millions of visitors arriving every summer.

But something has changed.

This year, protesters armed with water pistols marched through tourist districts, blocked buses, and covered businesses with warning signs. Across the country, a growing movement says mass tourism is no longer bringing prosperity—it is pricing locals out of their own communities.

Can you identify the country before the final clue?

Clue #1 — It welcomed 94 million visitors. Then the backlash began.

In 2024, this nation welcomed a record 94 million international visitors, overtaking Italy to become the world’s second-most-visited country after France.

The surge hasn’t slowed.

Visitor numbers continued climbing through 2026, with international flight arrivals expected to increase again during the summer season.

For tourism officials, the numbers are a triumph.

For many residents, they’re a warning sign.

More visitors. More pressure. More frustration.

Clue #2 — Protesters are now targeting tourists directly.

In one of the country’s most famous cities, demonstrators marched through tourist districts carrying signs that read:

“Tourism is killing us.”

Others sprayed visitors with water pistols while chanting:

“The city is not for sale.”

Activists also blocked tourist buses and covered vehicles with banners demanding action against mass tourism.

The message wasn’t subtle:

Visitors may love the city.

But many locals feel they are losing it.

Clue #3 — Its most famous islands are struggling under the weight of success.

One of the country’s iconic island regions welcomed 7.8 million visitors in a single year.

Meanwhile, the islands themselves are home to only about 2.2 million residents.

Roads are congested.

Water supplies are strained.

Waste-management systems are under pressure.

The situation became so severe that the islands were added to Fodor’s 2026 “No List”—a collection of destinations facing growing concerns about overtourism.

In some places, there are now more visitors than communities can comfortably support.

Clue #4 — It ranks first in Europe for anti-tourism protests.

A recent study examining tourism-related unrest across Europe placed this country at the top of the list.

More than 40 cities have seen organized demonstrations.

One activist group has become particularly influential. Its slogan translates to:

“Less Tourism, More Life.”

Campaigners argue that the current model prioritizes visitor growth over residents’ quality of life.

What began as a local issue has evolved into a nationwide movement.

And it’s spreading.

Clue #5 — Housing is where the conflict becomes personal.

Tourism has generated billions in revenue.

But critics say it has also transformed neighborhoods into short-term rental zones.

Apartments that once housed local families are increasingly marketed to visitors through vacation-rental platforms.

As demand rises, so do rents.

For many residents, finding affordable housing has become harder every year.

The result is a growing belief that tourism is no longer serving the people who actually live there.

A country built on sunshine, beaches, and hospitality is now debating how many visitors are simply too many.

So — which country is this?

It welcomed 94 million international visitors in 2024.

Its cities have become global tourism icons.

Its residents are protesting in dozens of locations.

Water pistols have become symbols of resistance.

And it now sits at the center of Europe’s growing debate over overtourism.

Can you name the country?

Bonus Questions

Can you also name:

• The famous unfinished cathedral near which activists blocked tourist buses?
• The island chain placed on Fodor’s 2026 No List?
• The activist movement whose slogan means “Less Tourism, More Life”?
• The term used to describe excessive visitor pressure on destinations worldwide?

Drop your answer below. Unlike Wordle, this one could change where—and how—you travel in the future.

Day #43 arrives tomorrow.

Missed yesterday’s challenge?