This figure, equivalent to approximately 6,850 foreign visitors daily, underscores the disproportion between the number of tourists and the resident population, with a ratio of 22 tourists for every resident annually. This situation has been emphasized by a municipal spokesperson, who noted that the district is much more than its inhabitants and that Barcelona needs to seek alliances to combat tourist overcrowding.
“"These figures demonstrate that the district is much more than its inhabitants."
In this context, efforts are underway to create an alliance among European cities with similar historic centers, such as Amsterdam, Dublin, Marseille, and Bilbao. The objective is to form a lobbying group to demand more resources and address common issues, including the housing crisis and tourist overcrowding.
Beyond tourism management, Ciutat Vella also faces the challenge of integrating foreign residents, known as 'expats,' so they become active members of the community rather than just consumers of the city. The primary priority for the current term is the housing crisis, with plans to accelerate the rehabilitation of apartments, as the district has Barcelona's oldest housing stock, with an average age of 110 years.
One of the proposals being considered is the conversion of old hotels and vacant buildings on La Rambla into residential housing, given the limited capacity for new construction in the district.
