Tourist apartment elimination in Barcelona could leave more than 52,000 Mobile World Congress attendees without accommodation next year.
The Barcelona Tourist Apartment Association (Apartur) has issued this stark warning following Mayor Jaume Collboni’s announcement to phase out all 10,000 tourist apartments across the city.
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This dramatic move threatens Barcelona’s position as a premier global events destination according to industry leaders.
Tourist apartment elimination threatens Barcelona’s congress crown
The potential accommodation shortfall comes despite Barcelona’s current capacity of 152,320 tourist accommodation spaces. Tourist apartments contribute 58,124 of these spaces, representing nearly 40% of the city’s total tourist accommodation supply. Consequently, removing this segment would create an unprecedented accommodation crisis during peak events.
Meanwhile, hoteliers have joined the chorus of concern about Barcelona’s attractiveness for major events. The Barcelona Hotel Guild has criticised proposed tourist tax increases, warning they could drive the technology congress to other cities. According to their calculations, the planned tax hike could add €400,000 to €600,000 to the MWC’s overall costs.
However, the city council maintains that tourism has continued growing since the tax’s introduction in 2012, reaching record numbers in recent years. This debate occurs alongside broader concerns about Barcelona’s housing market and accommodation availability.
The accommodation crisis warning highlights the delicate balance between managing tourism and maintaining Barcelona’s economic competitiveness. Industry representatives argue that eliminating tourist apartments without adequate replacement options could damage the city’s reputation as a world-class events host permanently.
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