How is tourism managed in Paris, London, and New York?

In a series of four articles, we explore how tourism is managed in major cities around the world.

Top-tier tourist destinations such as Barcelona, ​​Paris, London, and New York have recovered pre-pandemic visitor levels but have implemented measures to make the city compatible with activity, and activity compatible with the city. What are these measures, and what could be done to maximize the positive return of tourism to the city? These are global questions, but the responses being deployed vary by tourist destination.

Barcelona has been a pioneer in reorienting tourism policies toward a model that avoids the touristification of the city, a goal shared by both the tourism industry and the neighborhood. Touristification refers to the loss of a destination's identity, gentrification, overcrowding, among other attributes that go against both city life and the visitor experience that Barcelona seeks. The city has kept a tight rein on tourist apartments, limited the opening of hotels, and moved cruise ship dockings away from the city center, for example. Across the Atlantic, in New York City, authorities were also considering how to solve the same kinds of challenges.

Better redistribution of tourism

One of the mechanisms the US administration has been promoting has been the revitalization of tourism in less-visited areas of the city. Paris is following the same strategy. "We need to better manage large influxes because they threaten residents' quality of life, compromise the environment, and diminish the visitor experience," explained French Tourism Minister Olivia Gregoire. London, for its part, is also working to better distribute the flow of tourists and provide new areas to explore.

What do they do with tourist apartments?

Another issue on the table in New York, Paris, and London is how to regulate tourist apartments. In Paris, new licenses are no longer being issued. Those who already have one can only rent out rooms for 120 days a year, as long as it is their primary residence. In London, the limit is 90 days. In New York, however, the law is much stricter starting in 2023. If someone wants to rent out their home for less than 30 days, they must obtain a license and be present at the home for the entire time they are hosting visitors.

Unlike these three cities, Barcelona wants to eliminate all tourist apartments in the city, some 9,818. Of the four cities, it has the fewest. The elimination will not be immediate, but in 2028, Barcelona City Council will no longer renew their licenses, despite complaints from Airbnb. The goal is to return those 10,000 apartments to residential use.

Barcelona, ​​​​a pioneering city

In various forums within Barcelona's tourism sector, the messages echoed the same message: the city shouldn't aim to break visitor records, but rather to ensure that those who do arrive have a positive experience and interact with the public.

Historically, Barcelona has been a pioneer in the regulation and governance of tourism. In 2017, it approved the Special Urban Plan for Tourist Accommodation (PEUAT), an urban planning instrument that limits the supply of tourist accommodation. With this text, the city regulated its proliferation, with the aim of preserving a sustainable urban model and spurring investment around the city. It also implemented a surcharge on the tourist tax to finance and offset the impact of tourism on the city, and also encouraged the reduction of guide groups in Ciutat Vella, among other areas.