Barcelona is booming. A little too booming for many of its inhabitants and city officials who have taken measures to clamp down on a surge of tourism that is overwhelming its streets and public services.
The Catalonia capital has long been a top destination in Europe, but its popularity exploded a few years ago with the advent of internet tourism platforms such as Airbnb. It has resulted in a huge increase in cheap accommodation, with private properties being transformed into tourist apartments, many illegal and unregulated. In some parts of the city they now vastly outnumber hotel rooms.
Booze and bad behaviour
It’s estimated that some 7.5 million visitors will stay at least one night in the city this year – over four times the population of Barcelona. Making matters worse, young revellers are flocking to the Spanish resort in ever-increasing numbers and their drunkenness and bad behaviour is horrifying local residents of the popular neighbourhoods where they stay.
Whil
