The Generalitat de Catalunya has approved a temporary resolution allowing ride-hailing vehicles (VTCs) from across Spain to operate throughout the region, suspending local restrictions to meet the surge in demand for the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.
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This exceptional measure, effective from 28 February to 7 March, creates a stark political contrast. It comes as the Catalan Parliament is actively debating a controversial new “taxi law” intended to severely curtail, and potentially eliminate, the very VTC services now being called upon to support the city’s flagship international event.
An Annual Necessity
The government’s resolution is an annual fixture, designed to ensure the tens of thousands of international attendees at MWC Barcelona can move efficiently between hotels, conference centres, and the main venue at Fira Gran Via. The official decree argues that existing VTC authorisations in Catalonia – including urban licences granted by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) under a 2022 decree – are simply “not sufficient to absorb the increased demand” generated by the congress.
Consequently, for this limited period, VTCs licensed in other Spanish autonomous communities can operate services originating anywhere in Catalonia without limitation. Similarly, local VTCs will also have their usual territorial restrictions lifted, granting them freedom to operate across the entire region.
A Tale of Two Policies
The temporary reliance on a national VTC fleet clashes sharply with the government’s long-term legislative direction. The proposed “taxi law” aims to protect the traditional taxi sector by imposing stringent rules on competitors like Uber and Cabify, effectively pushing them out of urban centres. This is part of a long-running conflict over urban transport, which has seen Barcelona’s taxis urged to digitise and rival VTCs while adapting to a changing market.
The reliance on outside help to cater to MWC attendees, whose presence significantly boosts local revenue through mechanisms like the recently doubled tourist tax, highlights the event’s critical economic importance. However, it also exposes a deep-seated policy contradiction.
The VTC industry did not miss this point. According to reporting by El Nacional, sources within the sector highlighted the perceived hypocrisy:
“Next year the Government could have finished off the Catalan companies, but they will go looking for companies from Madrid to provide service during the MWC.”
The Future of Mobility in Barcelona
This annual exception underscores the fundamental challenge facing policymakers in Barcelona. While the city aims to regulate its transport ecosystem, it nevertheless heavily relies on services it seeks to restrict during major international events. Furthermore, the debate over VTCs unfolds alongside broader environmental strategies, including a plan for the AMB to expand its Low Emission Zones, adding another layer of complexity to the future of urban mobility.
For now, MWC attendees will enjoy a fully-stocked transport network. However, once delegates depart, the focus will return to the parliamentary chamber, where the long-term future of ride-hailing in Catalonia hangs in the balance.
