{"id":21314,"date":"2026-07-25T15:14:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T15:14:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=21314"},"modified":"2026-07-25T15:14:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T15:14:54","slug":"barcelona-offiicials-crack-down-on-tourism-say-not-a-single-person-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=21314","title":{"rendered":"Barcelona offiicials crack down on tourism, say not a single person more"},"content":{"rendered":"


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As European destinations continue their crackdown on overtourism, a popular city has declared, “Not one tourist more.”<\/p>\n

Barcelona, Spain, has emerged as one of Europe\u2019s most forceful opponents of mass tourism in recent years. Now, the commissioner for sustainable tourism, Jos\u00e9 Antonio Donaire, is doubling down on the city’s efforts to prevent overcrowding.<\/p>\n

Cruise passengers visiting Barcelona for less than 12 hours could pay \u20ac30, or about $35, in combined taxes, according to Cruise Industry News.<\/p>\n

POPULAR VACATION HOT SPOTS SLAP LIMITS ON TOURIST RENTALS, DRIVING AND MORE TO PROTECT ‘STUNNING’ SPACES<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a July 15 committee meeting, Barcelona moved to seek the maximum \u20ac24, or about $27, tax on cruise visitors staying under 12 hours, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n

The proposed amount would triple the \u20ac8, or roughly $9, municipal rate previously planned. <\/p>\n

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An anti-tourism placard is seen during one of the demonstrations in Barcelona against overtourism and the impacts it has on residents. <\/span> (Paco Freire\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“Barcelona began rethinking tourism with innovative measures like the moratorium on new hotel construction back in 2017 \u2026 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 recently told The New York Times in an interview.<\/p>\n

Catalonia, the northeastern region where Barcelona is located, attracted some 20.1 million tourists, 0.6% more than in 2024, according to The Associated Press (AP).<\/p>\n

CRUISE SHIP CRACKDOWN HITS TOURIST HOT SPOT AS CITY FAST-TRACKS NEW VISITOR TAX<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rising housing prices, overwhelmed public transport and a flood of tourists in historic districts have angered locals, according to Reuters. <\/p>\n

But nothing has been more irksome to residents than the massive overcrowding, the Times reported.<\/p>\n

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Barcelona, Spain is enacting strict policies to combat overtourism.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In May, Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni said he wants cruise passengers to pay up to $9.30 (8 euros) per night, a 100% increase from the current $4.65 rate (4 euros).<\/p>\n

The news was reported by El Pa\u00eds, Spain’s paper of record, after Collboni appeared on the local network Betev\u00e9.<\/p>\n

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“We don\u2019t want to grow more. We want the tourists that the city already has. There were 15.7 million tourists in the city in 2025 \u2014 that\u2019s the threshold. Sixteen million is the maximum,” Donaire told the Times.<\/p>\n

Starting April 1, Barcelona nearly doubled its hotel guest tax, hiking it from $5-$9 to $10-$17 per person, per night, Fox News Digital previously reported.<\/p>\n

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Barcelona’s world-renowned architecture and arts scene make it a popular European getaway.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Barcelona\u00a0citizens held a large protest last summer, with some even spraying tourists with water guns, Fox News Digital previously reported \u2014 as happened in 2024 as well. <\/p>\n

Demonstrators marched with signs saying, “One more tourist, one less resident,” and “Tourist go home.” The demonstrators are demanding a reworking of their local economy.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andreu Mart\u00ednez of Spain humorously said in July 2024 that the use of squirt guns was to annoy the tourists a bit.<\/p>\n

“Barcelona has been handed to the tourists,” said Mart\u00ednez. “This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents.” <\/p>\n

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Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world \u2014 and Barcelona’s tourism keeps growing.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

He said his rent<\/u> had risen over 30%, with apartments in his neighborhood continually being rented out for short-term vacation use instead.<\/p>\n

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/p>\n

Donaire told the Times the new rules are not anti-tourist; rather, they’re a way to attract diverse tourist groups. <\/p>\n

They’re interested in attracting visitors who are there for business or cultural attractions, he said.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s important to us that any resident can buy a loaf of bread, a book or a screw in their neighborhood,” he said. <\/p>\n

“We also believe that tourists will be more interested in a city where urban space isn\u2019t entirely souvenirs, phone cases and kebabs.”<\/p>\n

Andrea Margolis and Ashley J. DiMella, both of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Teresa Mull is a freelance writer with the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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