Tour operators: Madrid sanitation strike costing city tourists MADRID, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Tourists who have made reservations to visit Madrid are changing their plans because of the strike by sanitation workers, hotel owners say. Tour operators say many people who made Christmas reservations for Madrid are switching to Spain's second city, Barcelona, ThinkSpain reported. Tourism is a big business in Madrid, with about 40 percent of the revenue coming from the Christmas season, ThinkSpain said. But potential visitors have seen pictures of piles of trash in the streets. Store owners complain the situation has gotten so out of hand that in many cases their entrances are blocked, ThinkSpain said. Spain has been hit hard by an economic slump and austerity measures demanded by the European Union. The strike followed threats of layoffs and pay cuts from the companies that contract with the Madrid city government to pick up trash and clean the streets.