Tourism

The Massive Attractions (EGA) Action Plan is intended to enhance public spaces, regulate visitor flows, boost local businesses and reclaim areas for community activities.

Today, the Eixample District shared with the Ward Council the initial version of its Sagrada Familia Massive Attraction (EGA) Action Plan which concerns the area around the Cathedral. The plan offers a comprehensive, global approach to effectively managing the large number of visitors. The initial version of the plan contains a first set of measures to mitigate the impact of high visitor numbers.

The plan’s principal objectives include improving public spaces by de-cluttering pavements, regulation of visitor flows, promotion of a broad range of neighbourhood businesses and reclaiming areas for community activities. Those objectives will be implemented in different action areas around mobility, public space improvement, town planning, tourism, economic activity, safety and community cohesion. Those strategies are being developed in collaboration with local residents and other stakeholders.

Promoting local business diversity 

In relation to the need to promote a range of businesses in the area, a summer campaign of terrace inspection started in June in parts of Eixample, including the areas near the Sagrada Familia and Avinguda Gaudí, to ensure that terraces are used lawfully and that seating capacities are not exceeded. In July, five terraces on Carrer Marina are going to be replaced with a new approved model using platforms.

The plan also aims to strengthen the commercial axis of Avinguda Gaudí through initiatives like the Business Ready programme, which offers expert advice from Barcelona Activa, and the Faig Gaudí Fair on 28 and 29 September. Funding will be provided in 2025 for the Accessible Business Without Barriers Plan (CASBA), promoted by the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities (IMPD), to ensure improved accessibility to local businesses. 

New technical group coordinates security around the Sagrada Familia 

In relation to community security, a Coordination and Monitoring Group for security in the Sagrada Familia area was set up in June. The technical group brings together various security bodies, the Cathedral’s security management, civil enforcement agents, representatives from the Buzo Zone and associations of tourist guides. Planned measures include reorganising tourist bus stops, increasing the numbers of civil enforcement agents in the area and improving control over street vending by the City Police.

The Action Plan also includes structural measures such as review and improvement of access to metro stations access and the redevelopment of Provenza and Marina streets to connect them with Avinguda Gaudí. The goal is to bring new family oriented uses into these spaces, working with local residents to find suitable initiatives in line with that objective.

A definitive collaborative Action Plan for autumn
The City Council has appointed a coordinator for the Sagrada Familia EGA Action Plan who will gather and organise initial proposals to guide the Council’s in taking measures to manage the area round the Sagrada Familia.

However, the Action Plan is intended to be developed collaboratively so as to reflect contributions, information, proposals and strategies from key local stakeholders such as neighbourhood and business representative bodies in the coming months.

Civility campaign targeting tourists
There is also a communication campaign aimed at tourists with the main strapline “Barcelona, our home. And yours.” and the subtitle “Everybody is welcome. Show respect and you’ll be respected.” The campaign promotes seven specific points to raise awareness among visitors about the importance of respecting local laws and standards.