Barcelona is against mass tourism: they raise taxes on foreigners and protesters wet tourists

EFE, National/GDA
Several cities around the world have already started charging Taxing foreign touristswith the aim of reducing the large number of people entering each day, and Barcelona This will be another one of those, vote at your town hall.

After the arrangement No accommodation for touristswhich states that they will cease to exist before 2029, but have now increased to almost twice their value Tourism Tax They foreign visitorAlthough it has recently increased from 2.75 euros to 3.25 euros, it will reach 4 from October. Euros per night.

The measure was approved after a vote at the local town hall, where officials assured that the measure was aimed at Tax increase “Improving the quality of tourism” is higher than the number of tourists received each year, which is currently around 32 million according to the latest report.

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According to Time Out magazine, Spain In the next 15 years, it will surpass France and become the world’s most visited tourist destination.

Anyone who wants to visit the myth European Cities There are two types of taxes you must pay. First, there is Regional tourist taxcharged per night depending on the type of accommodation used. That is, if it is a luxury hotel, an additional 3.50 euros per night will be charged; Airbnb will no longer be available in 2028, and you will need to pay about 2.25 euros per night.

Added to this is Tourism Tax – Fees will increase in the northern autumn – A nightly fee will be charged for a maximum stay of seven nights. From October this year, if a tourist decides to stay for seven nights in a five-star hotel, he or she will have to pay a total of 52.50 euros in addition to the accommodation fee. Hotel Prices.

This is expected to produce not only Decreased visits For cities, this means that government revenue will increase. Barcelona tax increase Raise annual revenues from €95 to €115 million and allocate those revenues to city infrastructure projects, such as street improvements and more transport services.

Photo: Unsplash

Under the slogan “Let’s limit tourism”, thousands of protesters gathered at Barcelona’s most important tourist attractions, demanding “a change in the economic model and a reduction in the development of tourism.” Tourists flock to” and the consequences that follow.

According to the City Guard, or local police, about 2,800 people took part in the march organized by more than 140 entities in the city, including neighborhood associations, environmentalists, the Housing Defense Movement and trade unions.

During the mobilization process, some protest groups Attacks on tourists They appear in iconic locations of the city, such as Las Ramblas or the Barceloneta neighborhood. Videos from the time show how tourists dining at tables on the sidewalk had to retreat inside the restaurant because Protestants shot them with water cannons.

Protesters held banners reading “Tourism is now reduced!” and chanted “Outbound tourists our neighborhoods” and stopped in front of some hotels and other key sites. “I’m not against tourism, but Barcelona is suffering from overdevelopment of tourism, yes, because it makes the city uninhabitable,” 70-year-old sociologist Jordi Guiu said at the start of the march, according to AFP.

The local council on Monday criticised some protesters for causing inconvenience to tourists last Saturday. Protest against overcrowding of tourists This famous Spanish city on the Mediterranean coast.

In light of the image of people berating and scolding, municipal authorities ask visitors to respect They soaked the tourists with water guns That was on the terrace.

“Opposing mass tourism must be accompanied by respect for People visiting BarcelonaJordi Valls, deputy mayor for economy, finance, economic promotion and tourism, stressed today on social networks that