Barcelona Continues to Battle Overtourism with Bold Policy Moves

Photo: The New York Times

Barcelona, once overflowing with tourists, is witnessing deserted main streets amid rising local backlash against mass tourism.

Residents attribute the trend to soaring property prices—rents have doubled, and home values have surged over 44% in the past decade—driven partly by short-term rentals like Airbnb.

Protests took varied forms, from placard campaigns and water pistol attacks on diners to hunger strikes, underscoring deep local frustration.

Barcelona’s city council has responded with transformative plans: a complete ban on short-term holiday rentals by 2028 and a return of nearly 10,000 apartments to the housing market.

Additional measures include rent controls and redesigning key tourist attractions like the Sagrada Família to manage crowd flows and preserve quality of life.

The city’s approach exemplifies how cultural capitals can reassert equilibrium and reframe tourism toward sustainability and community well-being.