Last year the Government of Catalonia was persuaded to increase the amount of funds raised by the tax on overnights stays by tourists in the city from 34% to 50%. The money raised partly helps redress the negative effects the volume of tourism has on the everyday lives of Barcelona’s residents.

Measures funded by the tourist tax include: a plan for improved bus services in summer, the renewal of the service lane in Pl. Lesseps, signs at places of interest in Sant Andreu and Trinitat Vella, improvements in the Parc de la Ciutadella, new paving in C/ Sant Domènec, renovation of new access points and signs for the Collserola mountain range and the draft project to reorganised its springs.

In the cultural sphere, the tax covered the cost of La Festa Catalana 2017, the popular OBC beach concert for International Music Day, and the conversion of the Torre de la Sagrera air-raid shelter into a museum.

Full Council approved a proposal to claim a hundred per cent of the income raised by the tax so that the positive repercussion for the city is even greater.

Unity in managing tourism

The figures will be given at a new full meeting of the City and Tourism Council, a stable citizen participation body with an advisory role, made up of companies and entities from the sector and social and neighbourhood players to discuss and put together public policies on tourism. The update to the work plan for the council, territorial strategy and tourism marketing will also be presented.