According to a survey, tourism has now become the third biggest problem for the local residents of Barcelona! The overflow of tourists in this popular Spanish city has been a cause for worry for the residents, especially over the last few months. A number of reasons are fueling this worry among Barcelona residents about overtourism and we’re decoding some of them here. So, keep scrolling on!
Overtourism In Barcelona Causes Discontentment In Residents
The stunning architecture, gastronomy, and rich culture of Barcelona attract about 1,70,000 tourists per day! While the city has always been famous among travellers, the rebound of tourism it witnessed after the COVID-19 pandemic has been off the roof. According to a Hindustan Times report, this overflow of tourists has now become a big cause of worry for the residents of Barcelona.
Reportedly, the 1.6 million residents of the city are not happy with the growing number of tourists, despite how deeply the city’s economy depends on tourism. This is because overtourism is causing housing shortages, surges in rents, and congestion in public spaces.
According to Hindustan Times, a lot of residential buildings in Barcelona are now turning into short-term rental homes for tourists. This is changing the city’s residential landscape and even adding to the issue of housing shortage and rent surge for locals. As per reports, the rent in the city went up by 68% in the last 10 years!
Also Read: Why Were Angry Spanish Locals Spraying Water At Tourists Dining In Barcelona?
Locals Urge Authorities To Take Steps To Control This Overflow Of Tourists
The residents of Barcelona have maintained that they are not against tourism but rather how the authorities are unable to control the overflow of tourists. Some of the steps taken by authorities to tackle this issue include reducing the number of cruise ships that stop at the city’s port. They are also planning tourism development strategies to ensure that the residents are also satisfied.
Last year, reportedly, Spain witnessed the arrival of 85.1 million foreign tourists. This made it the second most visited country in the world. The large number of tourists prompted the locals in Barcelona to launch a protest this year in July. They took to the streets and even spread water pistols at the tourists to show their anger.
We definitely understand the anger of the residents of Barcelona against overtourism and hope that the authorities will come up with a sustainable solution for the same. Share your two cents on this in the comments.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)
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