Barcelona has decided to ban short-term tourist apartment rentals by 2028 to help address its housing crisis.
This plan, led by the city’s mayor Jaume Collboni, aims to make housing more accessible for residents.
The decision has sparked discussion among stakeholders in the tourism industry and housing advocates.
A double-edged sword for Barcelona
Barcelona, a popular city in Spain, has long grappled with the effects of its popularity. The city’s stunning architecture and vibrant culture attract millions of visitors every year.
However, this influx has come at a cost to local residents.
According to a report by Earth5R, residents feel that tourists are a problem and blame them for their poor quality of life.
The growth of tourism-related buildings has led to higher real estate prices, forcing residents out of their homes so they can be turned into tourist accommodations. This has also reduced the number of community areas.
As a result, the quality of life for locals has worsened, with poor living conditions and health.
Barcelona housing crisis worsens
In the past ten years, Barcelona has had a surge in short-term rental apartments. Websites like Airbnb and Homeaway have made it easy for property owners to rent out their places to tourists.
While this has given some locals extra income, it has also made finding housing more difficult.
Mayor Collboni said that rents in Barcelona have gone up by 68% in the last ten years. House prices have also increased by 38%.
These numbers show how difficult it has become for residents, especially young people, to find affordable housing in the city.
A drastic measure for drastic times
Under the new plan, Barcelona will not renew the licenses for the 10,101 apartments currently approved for short-term rentals when they expire in November 2028.
This means that by 2029, these tourist apartments will no longer be in the city, according to Mayor Collboni.
The mayor stressed the seriousness of the situation, saying that the city government sees this action as necessary to solve the housing crisis and reduce inequality.
Mixed reactions to Barcelona’s ban
The announcement has caused different reactions from various groups.
Spain's housing minister, Isabel Rodriguez, supports Barcelona's decision, emphasizing that it is important to make sure people can find affordable housing.
However, not everyone agrees with the plan. Barcelona’s tourist apartments association, Apartur, criticized the decision. They warned that it could cause more poverty and unemployment and might lead to an increase in illegal tourist apartments.
Hotels in Barcelona may benefit
Short-term rental platforms face a significant challenge with this decision, but hotels in Barcelona might benefit.
The previous government had banned new hotels in popular areas from 2015 to 2023. Mayor Collboni has suggested that this rule might be relaxed.
The hotel industry’s response has been quiet so far, with Barcelona’s hotel association choosing not to comment on the news.
Barcelona to crack down on illegal rentals
Barcelona’s local government has promised to maintain a “strong” inspection system to find illegal tourist apartments once the ban starts. This is part of their ongoing efforts to stop unauthorized rentals.
Since 2016, the local government has closed 9,700 illegal tourist apartments. They have also turned nearly 3,500 apartments back into homes for local residents.
These actions show the city’s commitment to prioritizing long-term housing for residents over short-term tourism profits.
Europe tightens short-term rental rules
Barcelona’s decision is part of a growing trend in Europe where cities are dealing with the effects of mass tourism.
Cities like Lisbon and Berlin have also put restrictions on short-term rentals in recent years.
These actions aim to balance the money earned from tourism with the need to maintain good living conditions for residents.
The problems in Barcelona are similar to those in many popular cities, where turning homes into tourist rentals has become a big issue.
Public frustration over mass tourism
The announcement of the ban comes as more locals are getting frustrated with mass tourism.
Several local groups have planned a demonstration on July 6th with the slogan “Enough! Let’s put a stop to tourism!”
This rally is similar to protests in other popular Spanish tourist places like the Canary Islands and Palma de Mallorca.
These demonstrations show the growing conflict between the money earned from tourism and its social and environmental problems.
Barcelona faces tourism pressure
To the scale of Barcelona’s tourism industry, it is important to look at recent visitor numbers.
In 2022, the city had 7.3 million visitors, improving 5.9% above pre-pandemic levels, making it the second most visited city in Spain after Madrid.
This high volume of visitors has put significant pressure on the city’s infrastructure and housing market. The ban on short-term rentals is intended to reduce this pressure and make more housing available for residents to rent long-term.
A delicate balance between tourism and livability
Barcelona’s decision to ban short-term tourist rentals is a significant shift in how the city manages tourism and housing.
As the city goes forward with this plan, it will need to balance between helping residents and staying a top tourist destination.
The next few years will show if this move makes Barcelona better for its residents while still attracting visitors.