The Sagrada Familia, the Ramblas, Park Güell… but additionally the crowds, the noise, and the excessive lodging prices. With an ever-increasing inflow of tourists, Barcelona desires to assessment its tourism mannequin, which has grow to be a supply of rigidity among the many residents.
In keeping with the authorities, there are a mean of 170,000 guests per day, and tourism contributes to 13.5% of the Catalan capital’s GDP. Nevertheless, in keeping with the most recent municipal barometer, it’s also the third supply of concern for its 1.6 million inhabitants.
Barcelona’s tourism has seen fast and aggressive improvement following the Covid-19 pandemic. In an indication of unease, graffiti and demonstrations with the message “Vacationers go residence” have elevated in current months in Barcelona resulting from overtourism. The town is dealing with file attendance, very similar to the entire of Spain, which is the world’s second-largest vacation spot after France, with 85.1 million worldwide guests final yr.
Final week, a number of thousand individuals protested in opposition to the group of the America’s Cup, a crusing race. This summer time, pictures exhibiting some demonstrators pointing water weapons at vacationers led to sturdy condemnation from the authorities, who concern that anti-tourism sentiment may escalate into violence.
“Uncontrolled” Improvement
Specialists level out that rents in Barcelona have elevated by 68% previously ten years. Locals aren’t in opposition to tourism, however they’re in opposition to uncontrolled tourism.
To ease tensions, the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, introduced in June his intention to ban the rental of vacationer residences by the top of 2028. This measure may have an effect on 10,000 houses. Nevertheless, the house owners’ affiliation Apartur, outraged by what it considers a “disguised expropriation,” has promised to file a sequence of appeals. It’s demanding one billion euros in compensation if the measure is confirmed.
“No Longer the Similar Life”
The municipality is sustaining its place in response to the specter of overtourism. Deputy Mayor Jordi Valls insists they need to discover completely different methods to fight overtourism and diversify the financial system by growing different actions. Nevertheless, many think about these efforts inadequate, particularly for the reason that municipality helps the controversial venture of increasing Barcelona airport.
In keeping with Anna Torres Delgado, a professor within the Division of Geography on the College of Barcelona, the municipality wants to deal with overtourism by lowering or slowing down tourism and trying to distribute it extra evenly over time and territory. Nevertheless, she believes tourism improvement methods ought to think about financial, social, and environmental indicators.
