From street protests to an Airbnb ban, all the ways Barcelona said no to tourists in 2024

The writing was on the wall – actually. Final yr, graffiti appeared in Barcelona telling vacationers, “We spit in your beer. Cheers!” One other message learn: “Your luxurious journey – my day by day distress”. 

However in 2024 the Spanish metropolis’s pushback in opposition to overtourism reached new heights.

With greater than 15 million vacationers visiting Barcelona yearly – drawn by its beautiful mix of artwork and structure, top-tier soccer workforce, and beachside location – locals are feeling the pressure. 

It’s not the one place in Europe calling timeout on too many vacationers. Italy, for instance, can be coping with the ‘plague’ of overtourism, and cruise ships are going through new restrictions at many ports.

Right here we overview a turbulent yr in tourism for Spain’s most visited metropolis -and stay up for what’s subsequent in 2025.

Barcelona decides to ban short-term leases

Again in June, Barcelona Metropolis Council introduced a radical plan to rid the town of vacationer flat licences by 2028. 

Barcelona has not really granted new licences since 2014 when it froze provide at almost 10,000 items. However that hasn’t fastened the problem of unaffordable lease for locals. 

“We wish to assure the suitable to dwell in Barcelona and deal successfully with the housing disaster we have now been struggling for years,” mentioned mayor Jaume Collboni.

The tourism business hit again, naturally. The Barcelona Affiliation of Vacationer Flats (APARTUR) says these Airbnb-style flats solely make up a fraction of the town’s housing. It warns that limiting licences may enhance the variety of unlawful flats and doubtlessly trigger 40 per cent of the town’s tourism to vanish.

There are ongoing authorized challenges over the plan. The European Vacation Residence Affiliation filed a grievance with the European Fee (EC) in November, claiming it breaches the availability of companies directive – one thing the EC has questioned itself.

Protesters inform vacationers to go dwelling

The overtourism debate acquired notably heated in July, when round 3,000 individuals took to the streets, shouting “vacationers go dwelling” and spraying them with water. 

Some 150 collectives, organisations and social actions have been concerned in the demonstration, which adopted related actions within the Canary Islands and Mallorca. Lodge and restaurant entrances have been additionally symbolically closed off.

“We would like the town’s financial mannequin to prioritise different a lot fairer economies. And for that, we think about that we have now to lower tourism,” defined Martí Cusó, spokesperson for the Affiliation of Neighbours of the Gothic Quarter and an activist in opposition to vacationer overcrowding.

Additional protests in opposition to excessive rents in November – although much less particularly focused at vacationers – additionally recognized overtourism as a driver.

Vacationer tax rises

In a bid to extend “high quality tourism”, the town council has been swiftly upping its vacationer tax: a levy that goes in the direction of cleansing, safety, metropolis infrastructure and different companies.

In October, it was elevated to a most of €4 per individual, relying on the kind of lodging. That is on high of Catalonia’s regional tax – which matches as much as €3.50 for luxurious lodges.

So, company in five-star lodging can pay a complete of €7.50 per evening – €52.50 per individual for per week’s keep, up from the present €47.25. 

Parking charges, cheesy retailers and disappearing buses

Barcelona has trialled many different strategies to minimise the heavy footprint of vacationers in 2024.

One slightly crafty measure noticed the town council take away an overcrowded bus route from Google Maps with the intention to liberate extra space for locals. The quantity 116 covers the Park Güell space of the town, however wasn’t designed for the overwhelming worldwide curiosity within the Gaudí-designed inexperienced area.

Extra not too long ago, politicians in Barcelona and Catalonia are contemplating doubling ticket costs to the park, as much as €20. 

The town council has vacationer buses in its sights, too, which may usually block visitors across the famend Gaudí-designed church, Sagrada Família. In September, it unveiled a plan to quadruple parking charges for the coaches, from round €20 to €80. 

There are round 156,000 coaches driving round in Barcelona yearly, in keeping with council figures, averaging greater than 40 per day. The plan is to carry this all the way down to 70,000 in 2025, with fewer parking areas for buses within the metropolis centre.

It’s not simply lodging and transportation that’s bothering locals – they’re additionally sad in regards to the affect of vacationers on the streetscape. Councillor Albert Batlle said in August that any retailers that “contribute nothing” economically must be “eradicated from the district”.

He was describing cheesy memento retailers – the type promoting bottle openers, shot glasses and penis-shaped issues below the Barcelona model.

What’s in retailer for Barcelona tourism in 2025?

From the deluge of stories tales this yr, it would sound like Barcelona is a spot vacationers must keep away from – or not less than put on a poncho to guard in opposition to water-bottle-wielding locals whereas strolling down the road.

However the actuality is far more welcoming, Barcelona Tourism Consortium assures Euronews Journey.

“At Turisme de Barcelona, we imagine that social debate is important to progress and to search out options that profit each residents and guests,” a spokesperson says.

“We work continuously with all stakeholders to make sure that Barcelona stays an open, welcoming, and sustainable metropolis,” they add. 

“The ambiance within the metropolis is one in all absolute normality, and we proceed to obtain messages of help and curiosity from guests everywhere in the world.”

Turisme de Barcelona says that vacationer satisfaction in Barcelona is excessive, with an index rating of 8.7, and guests persistently spotlight the pleasant nature of its residents.

As for locals, official figures present that 70.8 per cent imagine that tourism is helpful for the town.

The important thing, Barcelona Tourism suggests, is putting a steadiness that protects residents’ high quality of life and the town’s sustainability. To that finish, there are some things that respectful vacationers ought to try to do:

• Go for cultural and native experiences

• Respect the principles of coexistence and public areas, and

• Select sustainable tourism choices, reminiscent of public transport and accountable lodging.

2025 will little question carry new rules to redress the steadiness. Proper now, for instance, the town council is contemplating new methods to reclaim area across the Sagrada Família. 

However Turisme de Barcelona says it’s potential to realize a accountable and respectful tourism mannequin that advantages everybody.