The vast majority of Barcelona residents believe their city has reached saturation point regarding visitors, according to a new survey released by the Barcelona City Council. The data reveals that 76.7% of citizens feel the Catalan capital has reached or is reaching the limit of its capacity to accommodate mass tourism.
The findings, presented on Thursday, reflect a growing unease among locals. While 21.5% of respondents argue the city should continue to attract more visitors, the prevailing sentiment suggests a desire for stricter management of the sector. The survey, conducted between May and June 2025, interviewed 1,732 residents aged 18 and over.
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Home » Barcelona Mass Tourism: 76% of Residents Say Limit Reached
Rising Negative Perception of Barcelona Mass Tourism
The annual perception survey serves as a barometer for public policy. This year’s results highlight significant friction. The number of residents holding a negative view of tourism has risen to 33.1%. When asked to identify the most harmful aspects of the industry, 23% cited overcrowding. Meanwhile, 20.2% pointed to the rising cost of housing.
Furthermore, 21.4% of residents are concerned that tourism is fundamentally changing the city’s model. Despite these grievances, the economic reality is acknowledged. In fact, 58.4% of respondents recognise tourism as the sector contributing the most wealth to the city. However, this comes with a caveat, as 91.6% believe the industry is responsible for driving up prices across the board.
Locals Avoid City Centres Due to Mass Tourism
One of the more striking findings is the displacement of local life. The survey indicates that 57.6% of respondents have stopped visiting certain areas of Barcelona due to the sheer volume of visitors. When asked which areas they avoid, residents pointed to:
- La Rambla (27.1%)
- Plaça Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia (26.8%)
- The seafront / maritime front (26.3%)
Neighborhood tension is also evident. In fact, 35.3% of residents believe they live in a ‘tourist neighbourhood’. Nearly 30% feel there is an excessive concentration of tourist accommodation in their immediate vicinity. This issue may be further exacerbated by the limited availability of affordable housing, despite Barcelona’s public housing expansion efforts.
Strong Support for Restrictions on Mass Tourism
The survey suggests strong public backing for restrictive measures to manage the influx. A significant 73.1% of residents are in favour of eliminating tourist apartments (HUTs). In addition, 67% explicitly want to limit the total number of tourists. Additionally, 56.4% support a cap on the construction of new hotels.
Regarding fiscal measures, 56% of locals approve of increasing the tourist tax. While awareness of the tax has reached a record high of 75.7%, only 48.3% of residents are aware that the revenue is used to finance cultural and social projects within the city.
When it comes to the type of visitors the city should prioritise, residents showed a clear preference for purpose-driven travel. Nearly 88% believe the city should promote educational tourism. Furthermore, 77.9% favour business and professional travel. In contrast, only 23% support attracting more cruise ship passengers.
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