Girona locals call to reduce tourism after 'reaching limit'

Residents and organizations in the northern city of Girona are worried about what they consider the negative consequences of an "overflow of tourism" in the Catalan city.

Locals have come together to form the group 'Plataforma pel decreixement turísic Girona,' a platform calling for a reduction in tourists visiting the city, as announced on Thursday during a press conference.

The organization’s manifesto intends to make their voices heard and pressure public administrations to implement urgent measures, as "it is already too late," and Girona and its urban area have "reached the limit."

They propose increasing the number of patrols to find illegal tourist apartments or creating a list of all foreign residents living in Girona.

The organization warns that one of the major problems Girona has is the creation of "elitist ghetto areas" that force out locals who cannot face up to the increase in the cost of living in favor of tourists.

"The tourist monoculture has been good business for a few, but a death sentence for the locals," they say. 

They argue that limiting rental prices and the number of tourist apartments is not enough, and that specific measures are needed to "reverse" the effects of mass tourism. 

One of the platform's spokespersons, Jordi Mateu, criticized the "mass" arrival of expats. He said that they have great financial resources and can pay more for housing, but that they are disconnected from the social network of their neighborhoods. 

Another phenomenon that activists criticized is bike tourism. In recent years, Girona has seen a huge influx of people from all over the world who want to live in Girona because of the opportunities it offers for cycling. 

In 2018, some 40,000 cyclists visited the city, with an estimated economic impact of €89 million according to a study from the University of Girona, and the cyclo-tourism industry has continued to grow from strength to strength since the pandemic. 

In addition to professional cyclists living in Girona, many have come to set up businesses, from tour operators to bike cafes. But activists say this has caused many local businesses to close.