Barcelona is a premier tourist destination and this phenomenon creates tensions between two variables: everyone is aware of the benefits that tourism generates on many levels, but we should not lose sight of those who live and work here and do not want to feel like foreigners in their own City. This is what is at the forefront of the debate on the "tourism model" that Barcelona needs.

The new municipal team has imposed what is known as a tourist accommodation moratorium with effect from 2 July. To be precise, the Governing Council Commission has agreed to suspend the processing of urban planning and land management projects, as well as licencing or communications prior to opening, the installation or extension of activities aimed at tourist accommodations in all their various forms (hotels, aparthotels, guesthouses, pensions, hostels and homes for tourist use), and student housing and youth hostels.

This suspension is justified because an analysis is needed on the impact these activities have on the City's tourist accommodations. Once the analysis is complete, an initial planning method must be approved, which will restrict the intensity with which tourist establishments will be implemented in the future in Barcelona, but this must be done within a year, i.e. before 2 July 2016. In the meantime, no new licences will be issued.

The panorama that is looming based on all of this is that tourism activity in regards to new establishments will be severely restricted in its possibilities. This may make owners of tourist accommodation establishments that already exist happy, to the extent that, with growing tourist demand and less competition, their prices may increase. But it will overwhelmingly frustrate the expectations of those who want to shine the spotlight on Barcelona's tourism offer.

It is well known that, at present, values of real estate, although on the rebound upwards, still remain interesting to international investors. If one adds to this the growing touristic attraction of the City, it is understandable that many investors and tourism operators have plans, some of them quite active, to set themselves up in Barcelona. But they all require one thing: legal security, or its equivalent, maximum stability in legislation.

A procedure has been initiated, involving the elaboration and approval of the new plan, which requires the time and participation of citizens. This has to do with what everyone thinks, from their own perspective, about what is best for Barcelona. The Council must assess all opinions expressed, which may be very conflicting, but all of them legitimate. We therefore need political consensus, strong political consensus, a real challenge in the hope that everyone is fully aware of the circumstances.

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