Barcelona council denies planning to charge entry to Boqueria market

The Barcelona city council has denied wanting to charge tickets to enter the Boqueria market, or Sant Josep market, on La Rambla boulevard.

The denial arrived after the head of the Barcelona local markets institute, the body behind managing the sites, opened the door to implement a ticketing system or closed the site with walls to refocus its use.

Màxim López briefly mentioned charging visitors to access the market during an interview with the Catalan newspaper Ara. However, city council sources denied planning to implement a ticketing system, build walls, or install security revolving doors.

In fact, local authorities claim that the improvements need to be approved by city members and stall owners.

The goal is to maintain local market activity and preserve the singularity of the site while offering commercially viable produce.

Junts criticizes proposal

The Catalan pro-independence party and the leader of the opposition, Junts, criticized the hypothetical proposal. Charging visitors to access the Boqueria market would " strengthen the site as a tourist attraction," Jordi Martí, leader of Junts, said.

The idea "completely goes against" the goal of making the Boqueria a "traditional and quality market, with fresh produce." 

"Charging visitors would transform the Boqueria market into a tourist hotspot, more than it currently is," Jordi Martí wrote.