Three in four residents of Barcelona region have positive view of tourism

Three of every four residents - 73.4% in total - of Barcelona and its surrounding region have a positive view of the impact of tourism, while only 17.7% hold a negative opinion, which is up from 9.5% the previous year.

The percentage of negative views aligns with the Catalan average but remains below the 28.5% reported in Barcelona city, according to the study “Citizen Opinion on Tourism in the Barcelona Region,” conducted by the Barcelona Provincial Council.

The report also highlights that 38.8% of residents believe their county is nearing its capacity to accommodate tourists, a figure that rises to 63% in counties close to Barcelona.

While 73.6% of residents support promoting tourism, only 55.2% think their county should attract more visitors.

For the first time since 2017, more people agree that tourism restricts space and activities, though this perception remains lower than the Catalan average.

The study, part of the Catalan government's regular surveys, reveals that three out of four residents in Barcelona’s surrounding counties support legal limits on tourist accommodations.

However, only 14% feel there are too many such properties, compared to 63% in Barcelona city and 27.8% across Catalonia. A majority (63%) believe the current number is adequate.

Regarding the tourist tax, 50% want to maintain it, one-third would like to reduce or eliminate it, and 18% favor increasing it.

Additionally, most residents in Barcelona’s counties prioritize water use for agriculture, industry, and households over tourism, aligning with trends across Catalonia.