Tacky memento retailers comply with vacationers wherever they go. However not anymore in Barcelona. The favored European vacation spot is increasing its “protected zones” and banning “offensive” souvenirs, in addition to vacationer residences.
Mass tourism has introduced a number of inconveniences to Spain lately. The proliferation of memento retailers in conventional residential neighborhoods has prompted the native authorities to hunt regulation.
With the brand new ordinance, guests will not discover such retailers in areas just like the well-known Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Horta-Guinardó, Sant Antoni, Camp Nou, and round Casa Vicens in Gràcia.
However most significantly, Barcelona is banning all souvenirs containing offensive, “cheesy and tasteless messages that degrade Barcelona’s picture as a vacationer vacation spot.”
ERC’s deputy spokesperson Jordi Coronas gave some examples of the “offensive” souvenirs that may be simply noticed when strolling by the very-visited Ciutat Vella.
These embody “penises with ‘Barcelona’ branded on them or T-shirts with sexist and homophobic messages,” content material that the politicians say, “degrade the picture of town.”
Thus, the Metropolis Corridor is modifying the Particular Plan for the Group of Memento Outlets.
It now focuses on offering a wholesome steadiness between what locals want and what vacationers need, particularly in extremely congested zones.
Financial system Deputy Mayor Jordi Valls welcomed the brand new regulation however cautioned that implementing such restrictions is likely to be difficult.
There aren’t any “regulatory standards on the content material or aesthetic high quality of souvenirs.” Unhealthy style will be very subjective.
“It’s tough to standardize it as a result of what is taken into account in unhealthy style is a matter of very excessive subjectivity,” he stated.
Coronas advocates for an “imaginative answer” to efficiently introduce the brand new prohibition.
However that isn’t the one change guests to Barcelona will see within the years to return.
Trying to cut back a serious housing disaster, Barcelona will ban all vacationer residences by November 2028.
In a bid to offer extra long-term residences to native folks, Mayor Jaume Collboni has refused to resume any vacationer lodging licenses any further.
Additionally, since 2016, town has shut down some 10,000 unlawful vacationer leases.
Housing costs have elevated a lot that these keen on shopping for a home might want to pay 68% various years in the past.
If buying a property is an excessive amount of and you favor to lease a house, be able to pay 70% greater than you paid while you got here to town again in 2014.
These circumstances have led Barcelona to make this unpopular resolution. However take into account that this can be the way forward for different European locations which are seeing their streets overrun by vacationers.
