Barcelona hotel sector warns of ‘damaging image’ caused by taxi strike

The general director of the Barcelona Hotel Associtation has warned that the taxi strike is giving a “bad image” to the city.

Manel Casals highlighted that tourists are unable to go to the airport with “facility and agility,” and have more difficulties getting about the city to shop or go to restaurants. This, he said, provokes a “damaging” image.

Speaking to the Catalan News Agency (ACN,) expressed regret that tourists coming to Barcelona this summer have come across strikes.

“We’re not giving the best image so that tourism continues coming,” Casals said, also referring to other facts such as “vandalism attacks” against the sector.

Despite this, Casals remarked that the Barcelona hotel sector has not noticed any “effect” due to the ongoing taxi strike.

“We have the same bookings, there are no cancellations. Tourists aren’t giving up coming to Barcelona because there is a taxi strike,” Casals remarked.

The industrial action, which began last week, with two of Barcelona's major roads occupied for five days, is set to continue until at least Wednesday afternoon, when a major meeting between the sector and Spanish government is due to take place.