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Barcelona's Residents: Tourists more of a problem than Poverty

Barcelona. Courtesy Quique Garcia AFP

 

Residents of Barcelona aren't very happy with tourists.  In fact, if you believe in a recent poll, you might think they'd rather be poor(er) than have to deal with so many visitors.
 
I found this rather surprising as I thought the Spanish understood the importance of tourism to their waning economy.  In Barcelona tourism makes up 14% of the economy and creates an amazing 120,000 jobs.  That doesn't even include all the tax revenues visitors contribute to the local and national economy
 
But there's growing tension between residents and tourists, many of whom don't behave as well as they might.  A poll conducted 

by the Barcelona City Hall showed that tourism was the third biggest problem identified by survey respondents, slightly behind politics and traffic (tied), but above poverty.  Topping the list by a large majority was unemployment and working conditions.

 

 

There's no question that Barcelona is a popular destination, with record numbers of tourists last year.  Residents are worried that the growth in tourist-related services might alter the indentity of the city.  The city's new left-wing mayor Ada Colau recently suspended new licenses for tourist accommodation for a year.  We'll see how this unfolds, but you might want to consider visiting a city that welcomes you and wants you to come, rather than Barcelona.  There are so many that come to mind.....

 

More on this story at The Local at this link.

 

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  • Barcelona.  Courtesy Quique Garcia  AFP

Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

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