Barcelona tourism apartments will completely disappear from the city by 2028 after officials firmly rejected hotel industry appeals for exceptions.
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Deputy Mayor for Economy and Tourism Jordi Valls confirmed the city’s housing strategy would proceed without compromise, insisting all 10,000 short-term rentals must return to residential use.
Hotel Guild president Jordi Clos had argued for preserving some tourism apartments in vertical properties, claiming they cause fewer neighbourhood disturbances than individual units. However, Valls maintained the council would make “no differentiation” between property types when implementing the ban announced by Mayor Jaume Collboni in June 2024.
Barcelona Tourism Apartments: The Housing Solution
The elimination of Barcelona tourism apartments represents the city’s most ambitious housing initiative in decades. Consequently, officials anticipate significant relief for Barcelona’s strained residential market when these properties convert to long-term homes.
Furthermore, Valls emphasised that addressing the housing crisis remains the administration’s top priority. “We must ensure residential housing returns to the residential market,” he stated during discussions at Foment de Treball.
The deputy mayor additionally criticised platforms like Airbnb for insufficient verification of property legality. Meanwhile, he acknowledged potential temporary supply disruptions but advocated for metropolitan-wide tourism planning.
Hotel industry representatives expressed concern about accommodating conference and trade fair visitors post-2028. Nevertheless, the council maintains its position that Barcelona tourism apartments must make way for permanent residents.
The Barcelona City Council plans to complement the ban with potential tourist tax increases when parliamentary approval permits. This comprehensive approach aims to balance tourism management with urgent housing needs.
Therefore, Barcelona tourism apartments will gradually phase out over the coming three years, creating what officials describe as a necessary rebalancing of the city’s accommodation landscape.
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