Barcelona offiicials crack down on tourism, say not a single individual extra

As European locations proceed their crackdown on overtourism, a preferred metropolis has declared, “Not one tourist more.”

Barcelona, Spain, has emerged as considered one of Europe’s most forceful opponents of mass tourism lately. Now, the commissioner for sustainable tourism, José Antonio Donaire, is doubling down on town’s efforts to stop overcrowding.

Cruise passengers visiting Barcelona for lower than 12 hours may pay €30, or about $35, in mixed taxes, in line with Cruise Industry News.

POPULAR VACATION HOT SPOTS SLAP LIMITS ON TOURIST RENTALS, DRIVING AND MORE TO PROTECT ‘STUNNING’ SPACES

After a July 15 committee assembly, Barcelona moved to hunt the utmost tax of €24, or about $27, on cruise guests staying underneath 12 hours, the outlet reported.

The proposed quantity would triple the €8, or roughly $9, municipal price beforehand deliberate. 

“Barcelona began rethinking tourism with innovative measures like the moratorium on new hotel construction back in 2017. … Many of the measures will take time before they have an impact. But the message of the city now is, ‘Not one tourist more,’” Donaire not too long ago instructed The New York Times in an interview.

Catalonia, the northeastern area the place Barcelona is positioned, attracted some 20.1 million vacationers, 0.6% greater than in 2024, in line with The Associated Press (AP).

CRUISE SHIP CRACKDOWN HITS TOURIST HOT SPOT AS CITY FAST-TRACKS NEW VISITOR TAX

Rising housing costs, overwhelmed public transport and a flood of vacationers in historic districts have angered locals, in line with Reuters. 

But nothing has been extra irksome to residents than the huge overcrowding, the Times reported.

In May, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni stated he needs cruise passengers to pay as much as $9.30 (8 euros) per night time, a 100% enhance from the present $4.65 price (4 euros).

The information was reported by El País, Spain’s paper of file, after Collboni appeared on the native community Betevé.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS

“We don’t want to grow more. We want the tourists that the city already has. There were 15.7 million tourists in the city in 2025 — that’s the threshold. Sixteen million is the maximum,” Donaire instructed the Times.

Starting April 1, Barcelona almost doubled its lodge visitor tax, mountain climbing it from $5-$9 to $10-$17 per individual, per night time, Fox News Digital beforehand reported.

Barcelona residents held a big protest final summer time, with some even spraying vacationers with water weapons, Fox News Digital beforehand reported. 

Demonstrators marched with indicators saying, “One more tourist, one less resident,” and “Tourist go home.” The demonstrators have been demanding a transforming of their native financial system.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Andreu Martínez of Spain humorously stated in July 2024 that using squirt weapons was to bother the vacationers a bit.

“Barcelona has been handed to the tourists,” stated Martínez. “This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents.” 

He stated his lease had risen over 30%, with flats in his neighborhood regularly being leased for short-term trip use as a substitute.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Donaire instructed the Times the brand new guidelines are usually not anti-tourist; reasonably, they are a method to appeal to various vacationer teams. 

They’re concerned about attracting guests who’re there for enterprise or cultural points of interest, he stated.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“It’s important to us that any resident can buy a loaf of bread, a book or a screw in their neighborhood,” he stated. 

“We also believe that tourists will be more interested in a city where urban space isn’t entirely souvenirs, phone cases and kebabs.”

Andrea Margolis and Ashley J. DiMella, each of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.