Good practice for guides with tourist groups

An agreement with AGUICAT and APIT, the tourist guide associations approved by the Government of Catalonia, will limit groups to under 30 people, use radio-guide systems and plan itineraries which minimise inconvenience to everyday life in the city.

21/06/2022 10:22 h

Ajuntament de Barcelona

As a revision to the first agreement of this type signed in 2017, the agreement sets out 18 good practices citywide to guarantee the following goals:

  • Improve quality of life in the visitor experience and the internal and external image of the city.
  • Value and promote the work done by tourist guides approved by the Government of Catalonia.
  • Foster coexistence with the resident population and local economic activity.
  • Look after tourist resources and public space in the city.

The main steps include limiting groups of tourists to fewer than 30 people and adapting the size of the group to the places visited. Radio-guide and/or whisper tour systems will also be used, with guides undertaking not to use loudhailers so as to keep noise down. If tours are conducted on collective public transport, groups must always use radio-guide or whisper systems, and with the approval of the transport operators in question.

The agreement also sets out criteria on guaranteeing safe and accessible travel for groups, such as choosing suitable start points, stop-off points and end points for tours, along with planned itineraries and rest areas. It also includes the development of a mobility plan which provides enough points for groups to get on and off transport near the points of interest.

The good practices also include a commitment not to attract tourists in public places and to foster programmed visits and the advanced purchase of tickets as the best system for public safety and accessibility in the street. Other goals include avoiding conduct which does not respect architectural heritage, and encouraging guides to keep up to date with tourist resources and public space, as well as by-laws, the Act on Tourism, the preservation of privacy and protection of minors, the values of respect, education, coexistence, cordiality and more.

Specific measures for the district of Ciutat Vella

In the neighbourhoods of El Gòtic, Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i La Ribera and Barceloneta, where the density of tourism is greatest, a series of a specific measures will be taken in small spaces where guided tours pose more difficulties, such as limit of 15 people per guided tourist group.

Radio-guides will be obligatory to reduce noise. In addition, a single flow will be established in 24 streets and squares such as Pl. Sant Neri and C/ Paradís, along with maximum desirable capacities at different monuments and spaces where guides give explanations in situ, keeping these brief on days with large volumes of groups. For instance, in Plaça de Sant Jaume and Plaça Reial the maximum number of groups will be eight, compared to three in Passeig del Born.

Other recommendations include:

  • Looking for more spacious locations for explanations and avoiding the whole group from stopping in front of monuments or busy spaces, as well as avoiding groups coinciding. Leaving at least 50% of the width of the street clear, and in locations where there is a single flow of groups indicated, people must circulate on the right either in single file or two abreast.
  • Four unique locations are defined in the city centre where tourist groups can stop or meet back up when visiting Ciutat Vella: Avinguda de la Catedral (between the streets of Tapineria and Via Laietana), Plaça de Catalunya, Plaça Universitat, Plaça d’Urquinaona and Plaça Comercial.
  • Organised groups of 15 or more people will not be allowed at the Boqueria and Santa Caterina markets (or at the Mercat de Sant Antoni in the district of L’Eixample) on Fridays or Saturdays between 1 April and 30 October, during their opening hours.

A commitment has been made to review the agreement after a year so that any necessary improvements can be introduced to guarantee that the activity of tourist groups is compatible with everyday life for local people. The idea is for other stakeholders in the guided tours sector to give their backing to the agreement, besides the guide associations.