The Barcelona Metropolitan Housing Observatory (O-HB) has contributed with an article to the December newsletter of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), in the Focus section, about the impact of tourist apartments on coexistence and the housing market in Barcelona.
Key highlights from the article:
- Growing social tension: 57.8% of Barcelona’s population believes that tourist apartments cause conflicts among neighbors, a perception that has risen from 49.3% in 2016.
- Impact on prices: An academic study shows that between 2012 and 2016, in areas with a higher concentration of tourist apartments, rental prices increased by 7% and property sale prices by 17%.
- Market trends: Barcelona currently has 10,327 legal tourist apartments, while illegal ones have decreased but remain on platforms such as Airbnb.
The article examines how these factors fuel anti-tourism sentiment and affect neighborhood life, highlighting the importance of public housing policies to reverse segregation and ensure coexistence.
