Tourism in Barcelona: how much is too much?
With 30 million visitors expected to come this year, some locals feel the city is about to reach the tipping point
airbnb
Government wants new rules on tourist accommodation
Initiative to regulate unlicensed vacation rentals draws criticism from hotel sector amid growing tensions over visitor numbers
Airbnb an 'opportunity' for Barcelona, says consumer protection MEP
Nicola Danti states that online platforms offering accommodation or transport should not be banned amid dispute between Barcelona and Airbnb
Tourism website Airbnb contributed 740 million euros to Barcelona´s economy
In 2015, Barcelona saw 740 million euros from American home-sharing website Airbnb, through which over 800,000 guests connected with over 9,000 hosts. This number marks an increase in guests, in amount earned, and in overnight stays. This year also saw a shift in lodging location as the rented spaces are no longer primarily centred in the historic ‘Ciutat Vella’ neighbourhood. By the website´s data, Barcelona is now the fourth most important destination, preceded by Paris, London, and New York. CNA spoke to CEO of Airbnb in Spain and Portugal Arnaldo Muñoz, who explains the negotiations in progress between the company and the Catalan and Barcelona authorities.
Barcelona City Council to forgive fines on illegal tourist apartments if owners put them up for social rent
The City Council of the Catalan capital has announced it will remit 80% of the fine on tourist apartments with no licence located in Barcelona's Ciutat Vella district if the owners put the property up for social housing rent for a minimum of 3 years. Once this period is over, the owner will be able to extend the social rent or pay the remaining 20% of the fine. The City Council explained that the initiative is "a pilot test" in order "to start changing the city's tourist model", as tourists are too concentrated in some areas. This has created some friction with locals, mostly due to some visitors' wild street parties and to the rise in rent prices, as many properties have been transformed into tourist rentals, quite often without a licence. In this vein, the City Council will ask digital platforms such as Airbnb for the identification data of all their rentals in Barcelona. These platforms will be fined for each illegal flat on offer or if they refuse to issue the requested list.