The Take Another Take: Why is tourism a problem in Barcelona?
Jan 4, 2025
Carme Arcarazo, a housing researcher and speaker for Barcelona’s tenant union, discusses the drastic effects of tourism on Barcelona. She highlights how mass tourism has turned once vibrant community spaces into tourist traps, straining local culture and housing. Arcarazo delves into the housing crisis, fueled by rising rents and short-term rentals like Airbnb, and the locals' activism against evictions. With a historical perspective, she emphasizes the need for sustainable urban strategies that prioritize residents over transient visitors.
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La Rambla Overrun
- Barcelona's La Rambla, once vibrant with local life, is now overwhelmed by tourists.
- Locals actively avoid it, protesting the city's tourism-based model.
Barcelona's Geographic Constraints
- Barcelona's beauty stems from its unique location between the sea and mountains.
- This geography also restricts the city's expansion, contributing to its density.
Reclaiming the City
- Carme Arcarazo, a Barcelona native, avoids certain city areas due to over-tourism.
- The pandemic highlighted how many places locals have ceded to tourists.