Barcelona’s residents are fed up with the swarms of tourists invading their city, so the government has cooked up a new plan to tackle the issue. Slowly but surely, Barcelona seems to be sending a clear message: “Tourists, thanks but no thanks.”
The Mayor is gearing up to propose a substantial hike in taxes for these short-stay cruise ship passengers.
The Mayor argued that cruise ship passengers who drop in for less than 12 hours hog public spaces without giving anything back to the city, leaving locals feeling like they’re drowning in a sea of tourists.
“We want tourism that respects the destination,” declared the Mayor. This proposal, however, needs the green light from the Catalan regional government.
In recent weeks, anti-tourism activists have been ramping up protests at popular vacation spots across Spain, including Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, and the Canary Islands. They argue that tourists are driving up housing costs, making it impossible for locals to afford living in city centers.
More protests are planned for Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands, on Sunday (21/7) night.
Last month, the Mayor announced that the city would ban vacation apartment rentals by 2028. This drastic and unexpected move aims to curb the skyrocketing housing costs and make the city livable for its residents again.
So, if you’re thinking about swinging by Barcelona on your next cruise, you might want to pack a little extra cash. And to the tourists who think they can breeze through the city without contributing a dime – consider yourselves officially unwelcome. Barcelona’s got enough on its plate without playing host to a never-ending parade of day-trippers.