Barcelona approves reducing Park Güell's visitors by 500,000 annually before 2027

The Barcelona city council approved reducing the number of allowed visitors at Park Güell by 500,000 before 2027, as it was passed in the business committee on Wednesday afternoon.

The reduction would see a drop from the current 4.5 million available tickets to 4 million, and it will be progressively done during the next two years.

The measure plans to decrease massive tourism pressure in the area, or at the natural and monumental park zone, preserve its heritage, and also relieve nearby neighborhoods of Horta-Guinardó and Gràcia of the number of tourists accessing the premises.

Park Güell will see an 11% daily reduction in visitors, totaling 1,365 fewer each day and around 130 fewer per hour.

The proposal was submitted by the Catalan left-wing pro-independence party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya and approved with the support of the ruling Socialists, left-wing Barcelona en Comú, right-wing pro-independence Junts, and Spanish far-right Vox. The People's Party voted against it.

The plan will now be submitted to BSM, the office that manages public infrastructure in the city, including Park Güell.

The park is one of the most visited monuments in Barcelona due to its views and architecture. Designed by architect Antoni Gaudí, it has been considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

Esquerra's councilor Jordi Coronas said that the measure is "insufficient" for nearby residents but it is "a needed step."

Despite reducing the number of visitors, BSM will increase its revenue, as ticket prices increased from €10 to €18 back in 2024. Before the raise, Park Güell saw around €34 million in 2023, and once the price hike was implemented, the revenue almost doubled.

In recent years, the park has also changed its way of acquiring tickets, moving from both online and in-person to only online, to reduce massive tourism in the area.

In May 2024, many residents protested against local authorities and the French fashion brand, Louis Vuitton, for shutting down the park to organize a fashion show of the luxury brand.