Barcelona, which has seen growing dissatisfaction with mass tourism, has added a new concern to it issues over housing: Offensive souvenirs with racist, sexist or homophobic slogans and sexual images.
The issue has been raised in the city council by Jordi Coronas, who said “Barcelona, through its ‘souvenirs’, is also projected to the world. Penises with the Barcelona brand or t-shirts with sexist and homophobic messages do not project the values of the capital of Catalonia.”
Since 2018, the city has been working to avoid excessive concentration of souvenir shops in some areas, trying to spread them around; areas with limits include the area around Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Ciutat Vella and Camp Nou.
The new proposed regulations are less about restricting sales areas than about eliminating the offensive material that carries the city’s name home with the visitors.
