Barcelona marches to curb negative effects of tourism boom

by Dramelin 4:30 PM 0 comments barcelona beds boom city curb effects hotels marches million money negative rambla tourism tourist understand

Photograph: Stephen Burgen for the GuardianThe march coincides with a new law passed by Barcelona city council on Friday that, for the first time, seeks to curb tourism. In 2016 an estimated 9 million people stayed in hotels and a further 9 million in holiday apartments. And if I understand what?s written on some of these placards, they are complaining that tourism is forcing their rents up. In addition, the city received around 12 million day-trippers arriving by car and train or on cruise ships. There are currently 75,000 hotel beds in the city and around 100,000 beds in tourist flats, at least half of them unlicensed and illegal.