Barcelona, meanwhile, is preparing for a bold new policy direction. Local governments have developed measures to free up 10,000 tourist apartments for locals to rent or buy. This action addresses the city’s immediate housing crisis. Unfortunately, there are many local residents who can no longer afford to live in their hometown.
Local residents such as Raquel Pérez have raised increasing alarms. At 41 years old, she is anguished and stuck in this growing housing crisis. “Right now it’s extremely difficult to find a flat to rent in Barcelona,” she added. The city is inundated with this kind of tourist-use dwelling by right. Now, locals can’t afford to compete in a narrowing rental market.
Barcelona’s housing crisis is not an isolated occurrence. It is representative of a wider shift across Spain. The country has about 400,000 residential units for tourist use. Although these properties have converted numerous neighborhoods into highly desired destinations for visitors, this transition frequently occurs at the cost of local community members.
Local Voices Speak Out
Residents have been outspoken on their frustrations over the city’s lack of affordable housing. Xavier Solé, a Barcelona resident, felt that systemic change was necessary. During his Senate confirmation hearing, he called for increased affordable housing supply and improved regulation. Policy must put the needs of residents above the profits of the tourism industry.
Pablo Bustinduy is Spain’s Secretary of State for Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda. He has more recently published his views on the topic. He remarked on the impact of tourist apartments on local communities: “Behind each of the 65,000 property listings there used to be homes for families, workers, students, who today are expelled from their neighborhoods and see how their cities are turned into theme parks for the excessive profit of a few investment funds and big companies.”
You’re not alone if you feel this way. They feel the current system prioritizes tourists and investors over residents who need stable, long-term housing.
A Personal Struggle
Raquel Pérez’s story is representative of the challenges laid out by locals. She has voiced her support for the conversion of tourist apartments into long-term rentals, suggesting an aggressive timeline: “I am in favor of eliminating the licenses for tourist apartments and converting them into long-term rental contracts. In fact, I would move this measure up to 2026.” Her call to action is indicative of the rising sense of urgency by community’s residents. They’re tired of seeing their neighborhoods held hostage by predatory short-term rental operations.
Enrico Congiu expressed a related national interest in housing affordability. He described the emotional toll of being unable to secure decent housing: “Not being able to afford the purchase or even just the rent of a decent apartment for oneself is devastating for the dignity of working people.”
The Impact on Tourism
While doing what is best for local needs, authorities will want to be mindful of the effect on tourism. Dublin-based visitors such as Deborah Murphy, who flew from Ireland with a group focused on exploring Barcelona’s deep culture. Her journey underscores the increasing gulf between being a tourist in paradise and being an islander. This unprecedented influx of tourists has brought undeniable economic benefits but often at a ruinous cost to both permanent and long-time residents of these communities.
Lara Sorbili, an expat mother of three who’s permanently on the move, makes the most of a tourist infrastructure to her family’s convenience. To me it’s way more convenient because I can have a whole kitchen, refrigerator… it’s just a lot more comfortable. It brings down the cost of a family vacation, since I would travel with my kids,” she added. Her point of view highlights the important necessity of balancing an enjoyable experience for residents and tourists.
