Tourism makes it impossible to live in Barcelona, ​​say locals

However, in all my memories of beautiful parks and Gaudi architecture, soaked in near-eternal sunshine, I cannot remember the first time I saw the all-too-common graffiti I see now: “Tourists go home.”

I moved from Barcelona about 10 years ago, partly because of the impact of tourism on the locals. Now, at 27, my parents and grandmother are getting old and I’m thinking of moving back.

But the choice is not easy, especially when it feels like Barcelona prioritizes visitors over residents.

Tourism has been booming for decades, but Barcelona has become too dependent on it

Barcelona is a major year-round tourist destination and has been for some time. According to the Barcelona Tourism Observatory, the city received 15.6 million tourists last year alone.

Tourism accounts for about 15 percent of the city’s economy, which is bad news for many locals who don’t enjoy the benefits of having millions of visitors at home.

Sure, tourism brings more jobs to Barcelona – but even though this was a career I wanted to pursue, many of them aren’t built to support the real cost of living in the city.

Research published in Paradigm Academic Press in July found that most new jobs in Barcelona’s hospitality industry were only part-time, and the average monthly salary in the sector was €1,200, or $1,327 — €300 less than the average salary of the city.

Meanwhile, Spanish newspaper El País, citing official data, reported that the average monthly rent in Barcelona in the third quarter of 2023 was around 1,171 euros, or $1,295.

But housing has become a problem for workers in all industries. Spain’s housing crisis – exacerbated by many homes becoming Airbnbs – means it’s hard to find an affordable place to live.

It is one of my concerns when I think about going back to Barcelona. Many of my friends have to live with their parents into their 30s because they struggle to afford to rent an apartment with roommates.

Some residents are also forced to share another essential scarce resource: water.

In recent years, Barcelona and the greater Catalonia region have experienced and been vulnerable to droughts. Water rationing is becoming a new reality for many residents, who are expected to keep their use of the resource low and limited while hoping that globe-trotting guests will do the same.

It’s hard to imagine moving back to a place where the basic needs of residents are often sacrificed for a single industry.

The recent protests show how much change is needed – and why I’m not sure I’m ready to go back

Last month, friends sent me videos of viral anti-tourism protesters throwing water guns at tourists. The protesters echoed a sentiment shared by many residents: We need fewer tourists, especially in already overcrowded areas.

Local politicians have taken some measures, such as limiting the number of hotel beds allowed in Barcelona and increasing the cruise tourist tax for those spending less than 12 hours in the city.

Barcelona city hall cracked down on short-term rentals like Airbnb when it announced it would not renew the licenses that allow people to rent out their apartments to tourists after they expire in 2028. This is partly to help residents to cope with rising rent and housing costs.

But we need faster change and more sustainable tourism, which starts with less tourism overall.

I hope people can come and enjoy the beauty of my hometown, but I want them to realize their impact and meet the challenge of being a tourist in a city that is loved by too many.

Perhaps it starts with tourists prioritizing small businesses during their travels or visiting lesser-known spots in the city instead of areas that are already overwhelmed.

As for me, I hope that the residents’ desire to reimagine Barcelona as it was – not a tourist destination or the background of an Instagram photo, but as a living city – shapes the city’s policies in the future.

Maybe it will lead to positive changes – like more affordable housing and stable job opportunities – so I can finally book a ticket home.