AI Generated Image
Popular city cracks down on tourism saying 16 million visitors is more than enough
New York Post • • world
Key Points:
- Barcelona is intensifying its efforts to combat overtourism, with sustainable tourism commissioner José Antonio Donaire declaring, "Not one tourist more," and proposing significant tax hikes on cruise passengers staying less than 12 hours.
- The city plans to triple the tax on short-term cruise visitors from €8 to €24, while also nearly doubling the hotel guest tax starting April 1, raising it to between $10 and $17 per person, per night.
- Local residents have expressed frustration over rising housing costs, overcrowded public transport, and tourist congestion in historic areas, leading to protests including the use of water guns to deter tourists.
- Barcelona aims to cap its tourist numbers at 16 million annually, focusing on attracting diverse visitors interested in business and culture rather than mass tourism, to preserve the quality of urban life for residents.
- Officials emphasize that the measures are not anti-tourist but seek to balance tourism with residents' needs, ensuring local neighborhoods remain livable and commercially diverse beyond tourist-focused shops.
