Spain Is Introducing New Tourist Restriction Rules In Barcelona

Strict new tourist restrictions are set to be imposed in Barcelona in a bid to reduce nuisance to locals.

From one-way systems to a ban on megaphones, Barcelona’s authorities have released a string of new controls to cut down on anti-social behaviour.

City centre tours will now be limited to 30 people, while tour sizes of more than 15 will no longer be permitted in smaller areas.

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According to The Sun, tour guides will no longer be able to use megaphones in the city and must instead rely on audio equipment or speak quietly.

Only three to eight people will be welcomed at certain attractions moving forward and tours must only take place within 24 permitted streets.

The paper also notes that tour guides have been asked to only stop in ‘spacious locations’ when giving explainers and avoid ‘clogging up busy spots’.

They have also been ‘urged’ to encourage tourists to buy tickets ahead of tours as opposed to touting guides on Barcelona’s streets. 

LADbible has approached Barcelona’s City Council for comment. 

Earlier this month, The Guardian ran an article about Barcelona’s tourism industry and quoted resident Silvia Mateu, who has lived in the city for 47 years.

Speaking about the eye-watering number of tourists her city attracts, Mateu said: “Barcelona is for sale but not to the people who live here.”

Mateu said she wants Barcelona to develop a tourism model that ‘prioritises civility’ and ‘puts a stop to visitors keeping local people awake all night’.

She explained: “What we have in Barcelona is booze tourism. They don’t go to museums, they are not here to learn about our culture.”

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It comes a week after one Spanish town announced that holidaymakers who relieve themselves in the sea will face a hefty fine.

Authorities in Vigo, a city based in Spain's Galicia region, have declared that anyone found urinating ‘in the sea or on the beach’ will face a €750 (£640) fine.

According to local media, the city council has classified peeing in the sea as a ‘minor infraction’ and ‘an infringement of hygiene and sanitary regulations’.

Town officials have said they plan to install public toilets on beaches during the high season – but if anyone is caught taking a toilet break elsewhere, they may face a fine of up to £640.

Vigo is also contemplating fining those using soap in the sea, leaving rubbish on the sand, or taking barbecues or gas cylinders to the beach.