In a bold move to prioritize locals over tourists, the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, has vowed to eliminate short-term tourist rentals in the city within five years. This decision will affect the 10,101 tourist licenses currently in place, which are commonly found on platforms like Airbnb and Homeaway, and will instead make these apartments available to locals.
Collboni justified this measure by pointing out the significant increase in rent prices over the past decade, making housing unaffordable for many residents. He believes that by freeing up these units for locals, it will create the equivalent of 10,000 new homes, helping to address the limited supply of housing in Barcelona.
While some politicians oppose this move, accusing Collboni of undermining property rights, others argue that action must be taken sooner to prevent more people from being pushed out of the city. The Association of Tourist Apartments of Barcelona criticized the decision, claiming it will result in illegal renting to tourists and is a distraction from the mayor’s overall housing policy failures.
In light of these recent developments, it is clear that Barcelona is grappling with the impacts of mass tourism and a growing demand for housing. Whether Collboni’s plan will effectively address these issues remains to be seen.\
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