'Barcelona Opportunity Week' starts with the aim of stimulating local citizens to be “tourists in their own city”

Barcelona (ACN).- As from this Friday 27^th, Barcelona will play host to the third edition of the 'Barcelona Opportunity Week' (BOW): eight days full of leisure and cultural offers and discounts in Catalonia’s capital. The second Deputy Mayor of Barcelona, Sònia Recasens, highlighted that the aim of the initiative is twofold: on the one hand, they want Catalan people to “take part in the leisure and cultural activities that visitors usually do and carry out active tourism within their city”. On the other hand, they intend to reactivate economic activity during this slump in traditional commerce. This year’s event includes 20% more participant companies and institutions than last year. A total of 22 hotels, 48 restaurants, 41 flower shops and several cinemas, theatres, galleries and museums will be offering discounts and special sales.

The 'Barcelona Opportunity Week' (BOW), which runs from this Friday to February 5^th, consists of initiatives oriented towards tourists, such as discounts in hotels. However, most of the proposals can be enjoyed either by visitors or local people, according to Recasens. In this way, local citizens will be able to take part in activities that are usually reserved for tourists. Besides, the Catalan Government wants to reactivate economic activity in January, and part of the revenue from the different services will be allocated to charitable causes.

As for the economic forecasts for traders taking part in the 'Barcelona Opportunity Week' (BOW), the president of Tourism of Barcelona, Joan Gaspart, has declined to give concrete figures but has ensured that it will be a “success"” because they have received more than 100,000 queries to participate. According to Deputy Mayor Recasens “this project looks to energise the economy by encouraging local people to enjoy the leisure offer of the city”.

Some of the restaurants taking part in the BOW this year have been awarded Michelin stars so this is an “opportunity for people from Barcelona to visit the city’s restaurants” with special prices, Gaspart highlighted. Most restaurants will be offering 50% discounts and closed menu prices. 48 flower shops will be offering 11-euro bouquets in order to attract new customers. The municipal markets have also joined to the proposal. Each of the 16 markets in Barcelona will offer three products on sale, identified with a yellow sign, the title 'I´m on sale'. The initiative will be also on Twitter, with the 'hashtag', #ofertamercat, to stimulate citizen participation.

The cultural sector of the city is one with the greatest number of participant institutions and centres: 22 cinemas, 5 concert halls, 33 theatres, 18 museums and art centres, and 14 art galleries. These spaces will also have offers and people will enjoy special discounts, guided visits, several activities and free entries.