The Battle Between Locals and Tourists: Who Does the City Belong To?

Barcelona Is Throwing Tourists Under the Bus

As the summer tourism season approaches, a perennial question arises, and technology is giving it a novel twist: Is a place primarily for those who live there, or for the entire world? The latest salvo in this conflict comes from Barcelona. Bus No. #116 goes to Antoni Gaudí’s Park Güell, one of the top tourist destinations in the city. Neighborhood and bus crowding, however, induced the city council to remove the bus route from Google and Apple maps. So getting to Park Güell is now harder for tourists — which doesn’t bother the locals one bit.

And this is no isolated incident. New York City has placed severe restrictions on Airbnb in an effort to restore the supply of apartments for the city’s residents, rather than tourists. Amsterdam tells British “party tourists” not to visit the city, for fear they indulge in too much drink, drugs, and sex. Japan is hiking the price of the bullet trains for tourists by 70%. Venice is charging day trippers five euros a visit.

And then there’s the unofficial discouragement: Natives of Medellin, Colombia, recently went around to heavily touristed bars and demonstrated against the patrons. In Spain, anti-tourist protesters are targeting beaches and restaurants.

Whether you side with the tourists or the natives will of course depend on the place, as well as your status as a visitor or local. The debate continues as cities around the world grapple with the balance between catering to tourists and preserving the quality of life for residents.

As an economist, the argument for higher prices for tourists to alleviate overcrowding and fund infrastructure improvements makes sense. It’s a delicate balance between welcoming tourists and ensuring the well-being of locals. The ongoing debate highlights the complexities of tourism management in popular destinations worldwide.

In the end, finding a solution that benefits both tourists and locals will be crucial as cities continue to navigate the challenges of the tourism industry. The debate over who a place truly belongs to is far from over, but one thing is clear: the clash between tourism and local life is a global issue that requires thoughtful consideration and innovative solutions.