Tourism management
To move towards a conscious and balanced tourism model, it is essential to implement a set of measures that preserve the quality of life for residents, promote an authentic and sustainable experience for visitors and ensure the protection of the city’s cultural and environmental heritage.
The measures outlined below aim to minimise the negative impacts of mass tourism and foster harmonious coexistence between tourists and local residents, while promoting tourism that values the uniqueness of Barcelona.
Instruments for regulating tourism
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Use of the city requires contributing to its maintenance. In this regard, various taxes have been established to finance the resources required to keep the city clean, organised and safe. Tourist taxes must follow this same approach. The implementation and increase of the tourist tax, and its surcharge, have enabled public services to be boosted in the last term without the need to raise other kinds of taxes.
It is now essential to further adjust this tourist tax, taking into account that the measures in Barcelona should differ from those applied in the rest of Catalonia. This new taxation should distinguish between high and low seasons and exceed the current limits on both the surcharge and the tax itself. The aim is to establish a new fiscal framework that strengthens the tourism social return fund to enable projects such as the School Climate Plan to be financed, manage high-traffic areas and regulate short-term tourist accommodations.
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The future implementation of the Decree-Law on the Urban Planning Regime for Tourist Flats and the review of the current Special Urban Development Plan for Regulating Tourist-accommodation Establishments (PEUAT) are the key focal points that require a review and application of the tourist accommodation model. Additionally, it is essential to continue the efforts to combat illegal accommodations through municipal inspections. Actively participating in and promoting the regulation of tourist accommodations is crucial to ensure the sustainable and balanced development of the sector, while preserving local residents’ quality of life and enhancing visitors’ experience.
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In order to prioritise the management of the visitor economy by diversifying and decentralising it across different areas of the city, efforts will be made to improve our understanding of its dynamics. This includes conducting in-depth studies on the profile and behaviour of visitors in different parts of the city. Surveys will be conducted on visitors’ profiles and habits, as well as on the citizens' perceptions of tourism activity. Moreover, studies on the economic, environmental and social impacts of tourism will be drawn up using advanced techniques such as big data analysis and carbon footprint assessment. These efforts will be complemented by reports and the creation of infographics to yield a better understanding of tourism activity in Barcelona.
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As part of the visitor economy, a review will be conducted of the associated fiscal measures, particularly those related to mobility, accommodations and cruise ship activity, which can generate significant externalities. In addition, strategic projects with high social returns will be defined and funded through the citizen return fund, such as the School Climate Plan. There are also plans to increase surcharges for short-stay cruise ship activity and tourist flats (HUTs), as well as to review fees for coach parking. The additional tax revenue generated will be allocated to citizen compensation programmes.
Sustainability and development of tourism offerings
With the aim of making the city a leader in sustainable urban tourism, the Sustainable Tourism Plan for Destination Barcelona (PSTDB) has been developed, financed through Next Generation funds. This plan lays the foundations for a more balanced and environmentally respectful approach to tourism management, while promoting innovative initiatives to enhance the visitor experience and support local economic development.
The goal of the PSTDB is to promote the destination’s economic recovery and resilience through decentralisation, the creation of new imaginaries and innovation to ensure the social return of tourism and the sustainability of tourist activity.
The plan covers a wide geographic scope, with special attention on key areas such as Besòs, the seafront and Montjuïc, recognising their potential and significance for the city’s urban and tourism development. In this regard, the importance of expanding tourism offerings to achieve urban rebalancing has been recognised, with an awareness of the need to create new points of interest that decentralise tourism and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable distribution.
Mobility and management of public spaces
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A modernisation of the system regulating discretionary parking and tourist bus stops will be implemented. The new system, Zona Bus 4.0, aims to improve the management of authorised stop areas near tourist hotspots and coach parking zones through digitalisation and connectivity. Barcelona Nord Station will become the city's main hub for tourist coaches, in line with the Tourist Mobility Plan and the Station Master Plan, to address current mobility issues and future challenges in this area.
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High-traffic Areas (HTAs) are the parts of the city where tourism activity is most concentrated. An action plan will be developed to manage these spaces through cross-cutting, multi-sector urban policies with the goal of creating differentiated strategies based on each area’s characteristics, needs and potential. Specific management measures will be implemented for HTAs, with particular focus on priority areas such as Sagrada Família, Park Güell and La Rambla. A diagnosis of these spaces will be conducted, followed by the implementation of an action plan. The Endreça Plan will continue, maintaining collaboration with the local community to address cleanliness and maintenance issues. The land-use plan will be reviewed, tourist groups will be regulated and the geographical decentralisation of tourism will be promoted. Additionally, coordination with Barcelona Provincial Council will continue to drive the ‘Barcelona és molt més’ [Barcelona is so much more] programme.