Barcelona's Mayor Jaume Collboni announced plans to eliminate stopover cruise ships from the city by 2027. He proposed a significant increase in the tourist tax to €8 per passenger. This ambitious move aims to manage tourist overcrowding and ensure visitors contribute more directly to city services.

Stopover cruises involve passengers spending only a few hours in Barcelona. These visitors often consume all meals and services on board their vessel. However, they heavily use public spaces and city services, particularly in the central Ciutat Vella and Eixample districts. Mayor Collboni stated, "A quality tourism must serve the city and not the other way around." He added, "To achieve this, we must make brave decisions and set limits."

The Mayor's proposal, announced during an institutional interview on Betevé, seeks to accelerate an already agreed-upon tax increase. Previously, the Barcelona City Council and opposition parties had agreed to raise the cruise tax from €4 to €8 by 2029. Collboni now proposes implementing the full €8 tax from 2027. He also wants to remove the current €8 tax cap, allowing for further increases in the future.

Accelerating Cruise Tax Increases

These measures aim to achieve two main goals. Firstly, they will finance the resources that cruise passengers consume in the city. Secondly, they will economically disincentivise short-stay visits. The Mayor has held discussions with the Catalan regional government, the Generalitat, regarding these changes. Additionally, the City Council has already agreed with the Port de Barcelona to reduce the number of cruise terminals from seven to five.

Collboni emphasised the need for "quality tourism." He specifically highlighted business visitors as "qualitatively relevant" for Barcelona. He dismissed concerns that a higher tourist tax compared to other cities, such as Madrid, would reduce Barcelona's competitiveness. "Hotel occupancy is practically 85%," he noted. "We want tourism that is not overcrowded and that brings value and income."

Addressing Barcelona's Housing Crisis

Access to housing remains the primary concern for Barcelona residents. Mayor Collboni has made this issue his main priority. He aims to "guarantee the right to stay in the city." He defended the decision to eliminate tourist flats by 2028. This measure, he explained, will return 10,000 homes to the residential market.

The Mayor also supported the regulation of the rental market through rent caps. He asserted that this policy has helped "stop the escalation of prices in the city." Barcelona previously saw rental price increases of up to 70%. Currently, residents pay an average of €1,100 per month for a flat. Collboni admitted this figure is high. However, he argued that without the rent cap, it could now be €1,300 or €1,400. To further ensure residents can afford to live in Barcelona, the City Council plans to increase housing construction. Their goal is to build 1,000 homes per year by 2027, up from approximately 500 annually.

Collboni also expressed openness to reinstating the 30% protected housing reserve for new construction projects. He plans to include this in his electoral programme. "We must recover a very basic idea: flats are for living," the Mayor stated. "We want to end tourist exploitation." He acknowledged that many families and young people struggle to afford rent or a mortgage in the city, even with stable jobs and reasonable salaries.

Enhancing City Security

Security is another significant concern for Barcelona's citizens. Collboni defended the measures adopted during his mandate. He claims they have "reversed the curve of crimes." He noted that crime figures had been steadily increasing. "Today in Barcelona, compared with three years ago, we have the lowest crime figures in the last ten years," he said.

He admitted that "it is not enough; we would want it to be zero." However, he believes the adopted measures have started to improve the situation. The Guardia Urbana, Barcelona's municipal police force, currently has a record high of 3,500 agents. While some opposition groups call for more police, Collboni suggested that the solution "is not just about putting more police." He stressed the need for "more prevention and working on the social aspect."

Collboni's Vision for Barcelona

Mayor Collboni also celebrated Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit to Barcelona on 9 and 10 June. His government will take "all measures" to ensure the visit's success and smooth operation. He justified the free use of the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys for the event, calling it "an event of great civic interest."

With municipal elections a year away, Collboni confirmed his intention to seek re-election. He aims to "count on the trust of the citizenry" for a new phase of historical transformation, looking towards 2035. This vision includes major urban projects like those in La Sagrera and Montjuïc. Collboni expressed his intent to "articulate a left-wing majority." He noted that the challenge now is a "grown, belligerent, and aggressive far-right." He concluded, "I want to turn Barcelona into the electoral tomb of the far-right in the next municipal elections."

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Originally published by 20 Minutos Barcelona. Read original article.