Barcelona eyes complete air bnb ban by 2029 to regulate tourism

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Barcelona, a vibrant and historic city, is taking a bold step to address its housing shortage by planning to ban apartment rentals to tourists by 2029. This move comes as the city aims to ease the strain on its housing market and mitigate the negative impacts of tourist overcrowding.

Currently, there are 10,101 apartments approved for short-term rentals in Barcelona, available on platforms like Airbnb and Homeaway. However, once their licenses expire in November 2028, they will not be renewed.

According to city officials, allowing such a large number of apartments to be used for tourist accommodation has contributed to a 68 percent increase in rents and a 38 percent rise in house prices. This trend has made it increasingly difficult for locals to find affordable housing.

Barcelona is not alone in its struggle with the impact of home-sharing websites on its housing market. Cities like Berlin and Paris have also voiced concerns about the effects of short-term rentals on long-term rental availability and housing prices.

In an effort to combat over-tourism, the city suspended the issuance of new licenses for tourist apartments and banned the opening of new hotels in popular areas. However, the city continues to attract a growing number of visitors, especially following the easing of pandemic travel restrictions.

Local associations have organized a demonstration on July 6 under the slogan “Enough! Let’s put a stop to tourism!” This rally reflects growing concerns among residents about the impact of tourism on their city and the need for sustainable solutions to address these challenges.

In 2007, Airbnb came into existence when two hosts opened their San Francisco home to three guests. Since then, the platform has burgeoned, boasting a network of over 5 million hosts who have warmly welcomed more than 1.5 billion guests worldwide. Each day, these hosts provide distinctive accommodations and experiences, enabling guests to forge genuine connections with communities around the world.