{"id":15170,"date":"2018-11-22T10:13:04","date_gmt":"2018-11-22T08:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/devourbarcelonafoodtours.com\/?p=8798"},"modified":"2022-04-25T17:39:45","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T17:39:45","slug":"responsible-travel-in-barcelona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/responsible-travel-in-barcelona\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Tourism in Barcelona: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

After reaching a boiling point in recent years, mass tourism in Barcelona came to a screeching halt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever, it’s important to take a look at sustainable tourism in Barcelona: what it is, how to practice it, and why it matters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"Infographic<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Barcelona welcomed a whopping 20 million tourists<\/a> in 2019!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On one hand, we’re thrilled and thankful that so many people have loved our city enough to come visit. Barcelona is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, and with so many awe-inspiring sights, it’s easy to see why. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

However, when millions of people pour into the city year after year, a few issues are bound to come up. As the local tourism sector begins to recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic, it’s the perfect opportunity to look at how we can do better moving forward.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This guide to sustainable tourism in Barcelona highlights a few common problems that inevitably result from mass tourism. Plus, we’ll show you how you can visit in a responsible and sustainable way without contributing to them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Mass Tourism in Barcelona<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While tourism numbers in Barcelona were astronomical in 2019, keep in mind that the city has just 1.6 million residents. That’s just a fraction of the number of visitors who come into town every year! <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Of the millions of tourists that visited Barcelona prior to the pandemic, about half only came on a day trip. This means perhaps spending the day in the city as part of a cruise. These visitors usually spend very little money and limit themselves to the city center. This means they are unintentionally causing massive overcrowding in a compact space.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Plus, with such a lopsided tourist-to-resident ratio, it can be difficult for locals to go about their daily lives. The Boqueria Market<\/a> serves as a prime example of this. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Once a bustling-yet-authentic neighborhood market, the Boqueria has become overrun by eager tourists who come to check this Barcelona icon off their list. Often, they visit without spending any money to support the local vendors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"An
Help support La Boqueria by buying something when you go. Remember: it’s a market, not a museum!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The mass tourism problem doesn’t just affect tourist attractions themselves. It also has repercussions for the hospitality industry. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 2017, the local government announced a ban<\/a> on the construction of all new hotels in the city center. No new licenses for tourist apartments will be granted, either. Both cracked down on practices that commonly drove locals out of their homes in favor of providing accommodations for travelers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On the other hand, those visitors who\u00a0do\u00a0<\/em>book accommodation spend an average of just two nights in Barcelona. As a result, the same handful of attractions experience massive overcrowding as hordes of tourists rush in, selfie sticks in hand, eager to work their way through the guidebook. With such a short amount of time, there’s hardly a spare moment to get off the beaten path and explore the hidden local gems that make Barcelona what it truly is.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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2 days is enough time to see the same sights as everyone else, but you’ll barely scratch the surface of local life.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When to Visit Barcelona Responsibly<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We’re not trying to scare you away from visiting Barcelona. In fact, we would love for you to come and experience one of Europe’s most magical cities (it’s a big tourist draw for good reason!). <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

However, it’s more important than ever to be a conscious, responsible traveler when visiting Barcelona. That starts before you even get on the plane, as you start making your initial travel plans.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Visiting in low season means less crowds and more chances of discovering cool hidden corners of the city.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In order to visit Barcelona responsibly, we recommend coming during the low season. Fall, winter, and even early spring see far fewer tourists than the late spring and summer months, so overcrowding is less of an issue. Even the winter months tend to be warm and sunny, and there are plenty of delicious seasonal foods (which taste even better when purchased from a local vendor!) to enjoy as you explore the city.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Plus, believe it or not, low season still offers plenty of fun cultural events in the city! <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n