Published
Video length: 3 min
Spain: in Barcelona, restrictions against overtourism
In Barcelona, Spain, the city removed bus route 116 from apps to reserve it for locals, who complained about overtourism. Many visitors to Park Güell are also turned away when the quota of 15,000 entries per day is reached.
(France 2)
In Barcelona, Spain, the city removed bus route 116 from apps to reserve it for locals, who complained about overtourism. Many visitors to Park Güell are also turned away when the quota of 15,000 entries per day is reached.
At the request of the city of Barcelona (Spain), the entire 116 bus line has disappeared from the applications in an attempt to reserve it for local residents. Tourists have to take the metro and walk 15 minutes, but some see this as more of a common sense measure. “When you are local yourself and experience tourism, I think it must be difficult on a daily basis”, recognizes a woman. Until then, Google Maps recommended a local bus to avoid walking and climbing hills. But with only 22 seats on board, the vehicle was always crowded.
“Residents in the higher streets of the neighborhood, many of them elderly, had even organized demonstrations to demand that tourists take another bus”, explains a resident of the Salut neighborhood. Park Güell limits the number of entries to 15,000 people per day. Many visitors are turned away when the quota is reached. Management will further tighten the rules from July 1. “Only people who have purchased a ticket on the Internet will be able to enter. There will therefore be no more physical sales, this will better distribute the public throughout the day”says the director of Park Güell.
