Radical group Arran's call for action likely to trigger attacks on tourism assets in Catalonia

In a tweet on 17 June, the far-left radical group Arran, the youth organisation of Catalan separatist movement Popular Unity Candidacy (Candidatura d'Unitat Popular: CUP), called for action during the upcoming Spanish peak tourism season against an "unsustainable model of tourism" in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and the Balearic Islands, as part of its anti-capitalism campaign. The demands of the group, which supports the CUP and other Catalan separatist movements' pro-independence protests, include the expropriation of tourism assets and companies, including hotels and marinas. In 2017, Arran carried out several anti-tourism actions, including vandalising a sightseeing bus at the Camp Nou, Barcelona, in July. There were no injuries and no apparent intent to harm the affected tourists. In August, activists staged a protest at the port of Palma de Mallorca, including letting off flares at a restaurant popular with tourists. Arran also opposes rentals on platforms such as Airbnb. Last summer, protesters occupied a holiday apartment in Valencia and used it to hang anti-tourism banners. Some hotels in central Barcelona, including the luxury Catalonia Magdalenes, were stormed by protesters in May 2017, reporting damage to their interiors and furniture.

Significance: The Arran group's call for action is likely to trigger attacks by small groups of activists on tourism assets in the named locations throughout June, July, and August. Vandalism will probably be directed at assets including hotels, restaurants, marinas, and holiday rental properties managed by platforms such as Airbnb, including the occupation or damage of such properties. Activists are unlikely to seek to harm tourists or other individuals, but there will be a moderate risk of collateral injury to bystanders during their action, as well as possible disruption to and around affected assets and locations. Indicators of a mitigation of protests come from measures recently introduced by local authorities in Barcelona, Valencia, and Mallorca to limit Airbnb-style rentals and data showing a 15% drop in hotel reservations in Barcelona.