Radical protesters seeking to drive tourists away from Spain are encouraging foreign visitors to throw themselves off balconies.
Posters and graffiti have appeared in Barcelona in the latest campaign against over-tourism.
“Tourists go home, and please, practise balconing!” one message said, making light of the craze where people jump off hotel or apartment balconies, often injuring or killing themselves, The Times reported.
A poster on a lamppost said: “Dear Tourist. Did you know balconing? Prevents gentrification, improves neighbours’ quality of life, reduces the risk of heart disease, is LOTS of fun.”
The posters and graffiti, which are written in English, appear designed to make British holidaymakers feel particularly unwelcome.
Many of the posters appeared in Vallcarca, near Park Guell, a popular tourist destination featuring work by the architect Antoni Gaudí.
No one has claimed responsibility for the campaign, but most local residents believe that it is protesters who campaign against the high number of tourists, claiming that the hordes are making life unbearable for those who live there and driving up property prices.
The posters include the hashtag #BalconingIsFun, with Twitter users retweeting them and adding jokes or memes.
A spokeswoman for Barcelona city council said: “We reject these incidents and above all the message. They will be removed by the municipal cleaning services.”
Abta and the British embassy have urged holidaymakers to avoid taking risks on balconies after nine Britons were injured or killed in falls in three months.
Thomas Channon, 18, from Wales, died last month after falling 70ft from a balcony in Magaluf in Majorca. He was on holiday with friends to celebrate having completed his A levels.
Dozens of people are said to have been killed or injured since the ‘balconing’ craze began.
A study by one hospital between 2010 and 2015 found that two thirds of those doing it were Britons who were often drunk or had taken drugs, according to the newspaper.