Carme Arcarazo discusses the impact of tourism on Barcelona, including housing crises and cultural displacement. Locals are fighting back by regulating tourism and protecting their city. Activists campaign for changes like removing a bus route from Google Maps to reduce tourist influx.
Local residents in Barcelona are struggling with housing issues due to the impact of tourism, leading to calls for legislative changes.
The surge of tourism in Barcelona has resulted in overcrowding and displacement of locals, prompting protests against unchecked tourism.
Deep dives
Barcelona's Tourism Struggle
Barcelona's tourist influx has led to significant challenges for residents. La Rambla, once a local hub, is now crowded with international tourists, prompting social and environmental groups to organize a protest against unchecked tourism. The city's beauty and vibrant atmosphere are contrasted with overwhelming population density, impacting housing and daily life. Locals like Carmen express feeling displaced and unable to enjoy their own city due to the dominance of tourism.
Housing Crisis and Tourism Impact
The surge in tourism has exacerbated Barcelona's housing crisis. Short-term rentals like Airbnb decrease housing availability and increase prices, pushing locals out of the market. Rent control measures aim to address this issue, but loopholes favoring temporary rentals challenge housing stability. Residents like Viscillis are resisting evictions as housing costs soar, prompting calls for government action and demonstrations for housing rights.
Catalonia's Call for Change
Catalan activists like Karma are advocating for legislative changes to combat the negative effects of tourism on housing and residents. Proposals to eliminate fraud around short-term leases and enhance housing regulations reflect a shift towards prioritizing local needs over tourism revenue. The planned demonstrations in Barcelona and other regions signal a collective effort to challenge the current economic model, aiming for a more sustainable and resident-centric approach to urban development.
Locals are fighting to reclaim their city from tourism in a mass demonstration in Barcelona on July 6. The tourism boom has impacted local life, housing, and culture, pushing the city to the brink.
This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, with Amy Walters, Mohammed Zain Shafi Khan, Manahil Naveed, Veronique Eshaya, Ashish Malhotra, Duha Mossad, and our host, Malika Bilal.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik. Munera Al Dosari and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers.
Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio.