A decade after its inception under former mayor Ada Colau, Barcelona’s Special Urban Plan for Tourist Accommodation (PEUAT), commonly known as the hotel moratorium, remains a contentious issue. This regulation, which prohibits the construction of new hotels in the city center, was a key policy of the previous administration and has yet to be revoked by current mayor Jaume Collboni. However, a growing chorus from the business community is now urging its immediate repeal, citing the need for coherence in Barcelona’s long-term economic and tourism strategy.
The Business Case for Lifting the Moratorium
The call to end the moratorium was a central theme at the recent ‘Foro Barcelona’ event, a platform for discussion on tourism and urban development, organized by Hotusa hotel group and Turisme de Barcelona. Prominent business leaders voiced their concerns, emphasizing the need for Barcelona to align its urban planning with its ambitious growth objectives.
Josep Santacreu, President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, highlighted Barcelona’s success in transforming its economic model from an industrial past to a thriving tourist destination, attracting 15 million visitors annually. While acknowledging the negative externalities associated with this success, he argued that the benefits are often undervalued. Santacreu believes that international tourism will continue to be a significant source of wealth for the city, particularly with the rise of emerging Asian markets.
Looking ahead to 2050, Santacreu proposed the creation of new attraction hubs along the seafront or in the Forum area, advocating for “brave and emblematic investments” that could help alleviate congestion in the city center. To facilitate this vision, he called for the expansion of Barcelona Airport to strengthen intercontinental flights with Asia and for the promotion of Barcelona as a destination beyond its municipal boundaries, encouraging tourist spending in surrounding areas. He concluded, “If we expand the playing field, why can’t you build more hotels? Everything is connected. A broader perspective is needed.”
Pau Relat, President of Fira de Barcelona, indirectly supported a review of the moratorium, emphasizing the need for coherence between the city’s fair expansion plans and its accommodation capacity. Fira de Barcelona is undertaking an ambitious expansion and renovation of its Gran Via and Montjuïc venues, and Relat stressed that these facilities must be filled with activity to ensure the profitability of the investments. He noted that attracting major international congresses depends on a combination of air connectivity, infrastructure, and thousands of “quality accommodation options at competitive prices.” Therefore, he argued, if the city is investing in expanding its fair capacity to attract more congresses, it should be “coherent and dimension its infrastructures, from hotel beds to the airport, in line with these growth plans.”
The City’s Stance: Balancing Growth with Social Impact
The event also featured Salvador Illa, President of the Generalitat; Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism; Amancio López, President of Hotusa; and Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona, offering insights into the government’s perspective.
Amancio López reiterated his opposition to Barcelona’s progressive tourist tax, arguing that its continuous increase “penalizes the city’s main source of income.” He also highlighted that “the capacity of a destination to receive tourists is not infinite” and advocated for stimulating specific types of establishments and attracting desired tourist profiles. He expressed strong disapproval of the conversion of residential homes into tourist apartments and stressed the critical need for more long-haul flights, making airport expansion indispensable.
Mayor Collboni, however, reaffirmed the city’s “firm decision not to renew tourist apartment licenses from 2028 onwards.” This policy aims to improve housing accessibility for residents and mitigate the negative externalities associated with tourist apartments. He also pointed out that revenue from the overnight stay tax is reinvested into the city, funding initiatives in high-tourism areas and a school air-conditioning plan.
Collboni stated that the tourist tax allows the city to influence demand and foster a new tourism model. His objective is for Barcelona’s future tourist mix to be one-third leisure, one-third cultural, and one-third MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions). He believes this combination will “balance the model and leverage all the positive aspects of the tourism industry, making coexistence possible.” He concluded by noting the significant consensuses achieved between the public and private sectors and across administrations, leaving the question open as to whether the unblocking of the hotel moratorium will be the next major consensus.
The Path Forward: A Question of Priorities
The debate surrounding Barcelona’s hotel moratorium underscores a fundamental tension between economic growth and urban liveability. While business leaders emphasize the need for infrastructure to support a thriving tourism and convention industry, the city government prioritizes housing accessibility and managing the social impact of tourism.
The current situation presents a dilemma: how can Barcelona maintain its status as a global city and attract high-value tourism while ensuring that its residents can afford to live there and that its neighborhoods remain vibrant communities? The arguments presented at Foro Barcelona highlight the interconnectedness of these issues, from airport expansion and tourist taxes to hotel capacity and housing policy. The call for “coherence” from the business sector is a plea for integrated planning that considers the entire ecosystem of the city.
As Barcelona looks towards 2050, the decisions made today regarding the hotel moratorium and related policies will undoubtedly shape its future. The challenge lies in finding a balance that fosters economic prosperity without compromising the quality of life for its citizens. Whether this balance will involve lifting the moratorium, introducing new regulatory frameworks, or a combination of both, remains to be seen. The ongoing dialogue between the business community and city authorities will be crucial in navigating these complex choices and forging a sustainable path forward for Barcelona.
Source: https://www.hosteltur.com/172802-el-mundo-empresarial-urge-a-poner-fin-a-la-moratoria-hotelera-en-barcelona-por-coherencia.html
