The mayor of the Spanish city of Barcelona has put a temporary halt on issuing licences for tourist accommodation in a bid to control the alarming growth in tourist numbers. According to a statement from his office, the suspension will apply to hotels, apartments, hostels and privately owned accommodation houses. “It was necessary to put things in order,” Mayor Ada Colau told reporters. “Up to now, tourism policies had been drawn up piecemeal.”
In Brief
- 7 million people visit Barcelona each year, and residents are saying the very character that draws the tourists is being eroded as a result.
- The city council has announced that it start a public debate on developing a sustainable tourism plan by early 2016.
- Barcelona was also the first city in the world to be awarded Biosphere certification. The award recognised the city as being committed to developing responsible tourism and including sustainable, environmental, cultural and socio-economic management criteria.
In Depth
- Read the original article here.
- Follow Biosphere on twitter
- Discover sustainable tourism options in Barcelona on Green City Trips
