Badalona has experienced a 37.2% increase in tourist accommodation capacity over the past five years, according to new data from the Barcelona Provincial Council’s Tourism Laboratory. The coastal city saw average annual tourist accommodation places rise from 1,191 in 2019 to 1,634 by late 2024. Meanwhile, property owners offering tourist rentals increased by 40.4% during the same period.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Regulatory Response
The municipal government responded to this growth by implementing licensing restrictions. In February 2024, Badalona approved a one-year suspension on new tourist accommodation licenses. Officials extended this prohibition for twelve additional months in March 2025. The council said these measures aim to address housing availability concerns while developing new municipal regulations.
Data comes from analysis of four major online platforms: Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo and Tripadvisor. Researchers tracked listings monthly since January 2019. The most recent figures from August 2025 show 1,658 available tourist accommodation places in Badalona. This represents continued growth despite regulatory efforts.
Market Recovery Pattern
The pandemic significantly affected tourist accommodation numbers between 2020 and 2022. Properties decreased by 30% while available places fell 32%. However, 2023 brought progressive recovery across the sector. Current levels remain slightly below pre-pandemic figures despite recent growth.
Similar tourist accommodation challenges have emerged across Catalonia. Palma recently implemented comprehensive restrictions on new tourist rentals. Meanwhile, Barcelona continues to debate appropriate regulatory approaches to balance tourism and housing needs.
Municipal officials indicate the license suspension provides breathing space for policy development. The temporary measure allows assessment of tourism’s impact on local housing markets. Additional regulatory proposals are expected before the current suspension expires in 2026.
Join our WhatsApp broadcast channel to get all of the news delivered to youSource
