Barcelona, one of Europe’s premier travel destinations, has been plagued by anti-tourist sentiments expressed through graffiti in recent years. However, the city is taking steps to address this issue and combat climate change.
The city hall in Barcelona has introduced a new initiative to allocate €100 million ($108 million) from the tourist tax towards installing heat pumps and solar panels in state-owned schools. This move aims to not only reduce tourism phobia but also promote long-term environmental benefits.
Barcelona, with a population of 1.6 million, attracts around 7 million tourists annually, putting a strain on public services like waste removal. To mitigate these challenges, the city implemented a tourist tax of €2.75 ($3) per person per night, set to increase to €3.25 ($4) starting April 1.
Jordi Valls, Barcelona’s head of economic and tourism promotion, explains that the tax revenue has traditionally been used to offset the impact of tourism on the city. However, this year, the focus is on funding public services from a climate perspective.
Given the city’s rapidly changing climate, Barcelona is experiencing hotter and drier conditions. To address this, the city plans to install air conditioning systems powered by solar energy in 170 schools by 2029, replacing old gas boilers with heat pumps.
Barcelona’s initiative also includes the installation of solar panels across school properties to generate surplus energy for neighboring buildings, reducing electricity costs and promoting clean energy use.
This forward-thinking approach by Barcelona could serve as a model for other European cities facing similar challenges of climate change and tourism influx. Venice and Paris are also implementing tourist taxes to fund various projects aimed at preserving heritage and addressing environmental concerns.
While some critics in Barcelona question the effectiveness of the tourist tax plans, city officials are optimistic about the positive impact these initiatives will have on both the environment and public services.
