José Antonio Donaire: "Barcelona is the laboratory for the tourism management of the future"

BarcelonaJosé Antonio Donaire (Salamanca, 1968) has been for three months the commissioner for Sustainable Tourism Management of the Barcelona City CouncilA PhD in geography and tenured professor at the Faculty of Tourism of the University of Girona, he lives in the Gothic Quarter, where he witnesses firsthand the effects of a tourism sector that the city council believes has peaked.

Hoteliers warn that tourism is declining. Is this good news?

— The data still shows slight growth. These are the lingering effects of the decision to halt supply growth. From now on, we'll have roughly the same number of tourists each year, and we'll have to get used to evaluating tourism with new indicators. What has been the water footprint? How many tourists have visited the most densely populated areas? What are the working conditions in the sector?

What type of tourism should Barcelona seek?

— Currently, business tourism accounts for approximately 19% of the total, and cultural tourism for 20%. The remainder is mostly leisure tourism. The goal is for each of these sectors to represent a third of the total. The more diverse the types of tourists we have, the less likely a specific problem in one segment will affect the whole.

How is it achieved?

— For example, we have just approved a substantial increase in our contribution to a fund dedicated to attracting international conferences. We live in a globalized, highly competitive world, but Barcelona has tremendous assets, and we want not only to consolidate the conferences we already host but also to attract new ones.

The Hotel Guild says the increase in the tourist tax could put Mobile World Congress at risk.

— I'm surprised they're saying that. The substantial increase in hotel prices in recent years hasn't had a negative effect on attracting conferences. It seems odd that they're saying four euros per person per day for the next four years will. It would be easier for them to lower their prices. As for Mobile World Congress, we see it staying in the city for many years to come.

Will reducing the number of cruise terminals actually reduce the volume of cruise passengers?

— Our plan is to reduce the number of terminals from seven to five, but also to lower the overall capacity for cruise passengers from 36,000 to 31,000. It's a kind of Special Urban Tourism Plan (PEUAT) for the port, reducing its maximum capacity. Having 5,000 fewer cruise passengers per day is a significant amount. That's 150,000 fewer cruise passengers each month, which translates to half a million fewer cruise passengers in the summer. It's true that if cruise lines decide to shift some of their operations to the off-season months, the overall decrease for the year will be slight, but we will have significantly reduced the intense pressure on the city caused by the massive influx of cruise passengers in the summer.

Will Barcelona close all tourist apartments? Or could it consider keeping some?

— The City Council has been very clear on this: we are going to implement the decree that allows us to revoke the licenses. We are facing a housing emergency, and our position is to allow 10,000 homes to enter the real estate market.

This could shift this offer to other municipalities. Is metropolitan regulation necessary?

— We are working with the metropolitan municipalities to ensure a coordinated response while always respecting municipal autonomy. We cannot envision a scenario in which the metropolitan area will absorb Barcelona's excess demand.

Barcelona could open 4,000 hotel rooms in areas not experiencing high demand. Isn't there a risk of simply shifting the problem?

— We are convinced that one of the answers to the impact of tourism is a better territorial distribution of the activity. This allows us to reduce the pressure on the most congested areas and, at the same time, better distribute the benefits of tourism. We are making a strategic commitment to La Sagrera.

Are you worried that there might be opposition from these neighborhoods where there aren't many tourists so far?

— Typically, the backlash against tourism is concentrated in the neighborhoods with the highest concentration of tourists. I believe that, in an intelligent, measured way, always adapted to the local conditions, a process of restructuring tourist pressure and diversifying tourism can be implemented. This would allow residents to maintain their daily lives while also diversifying the positive economic impact of tourism on the city. Tourism is a source of wealth with an indirect effect on many sectors of the city, and approximately 60% of that wealth goes to non-tourist sectors such as commerce and agri-food.

Is it compatible to want to limit the supply of cruise ships and tourist apartments while simultaneously investing in expanding the airport?

— There are various tools available to limit tourism, and Barcelona has chosen to limit the supply of accommodation. The airport has many functions, one of which is to boost the city's economy.

You had expressed opposition to that expansion due to its environmental impact. What has changed?

— When I joined the government, I already knew the decision the City Council had made. And the government also knew my position on the matter. My commitment is to work for the city over the next two years, and I'm focusing strictly on my area of responsibility.

And what do you hope to be able to do in that time?

— We have three main objectives: to limit the number of visitors, to influence the type of visitors we want, and to distribute them geographically in a different way. Humbly, but also emphatically, I say that Barcelona is the world's leading city in urban tourism management. Measures such as the management of the tourist tax, the cruise terminals, and the implementation of the PEUAT (Special Urban Development Plan for Tourist Accommodation) are destined to become standard practice in tourism management. In a way, we are the laboratory for the future of tourism management. I am convinced that in a few years other cities will follow in our footsteps, and we will likely be able to talk about the Barcelona model.

They have agreed to reduce the capacity of Park Güell by 500,000 visitors over two years. Will it be reduced even further in the future?

— First we must assess what the impact of this measure will be on tourism dynamics, but one of the City Council's strategic priorities is to reduce the influx in the areas where it is highest.

Could the entrance fee increase?

— Price and taxation are always factors that must be carefully considered to avoid negative consequences. However, when compared to other European models and existing proposals in the city, an increase could always be considered.