The measure furthers the move by the City Council to manage the tourist phenomenon and minimise negative external factors that it may lead to at certain moments in some places. Notable measures include the prohibition of tourist accommodation (HUT) from 2028, plus the tourist tax surcharge that enabled the City Council to generate 106.5 million euros in revenue in 2024 and make it possible to move forward with projects that have a return for citizens.

Besides expanding ‘Let’s play in the squares’ to busy areas, a new line of subsidies has also been launched for shops and business in ground-floor premises as part of the ‘Impulsem el que fas’ call, with a budget of 2.5 million euros to promote small local commerce in these same areas.

This year will see action plans drafted for the spaces of Turó de la Rovira and for Passeig de Gràcia-Plaça Catalunya, to be followed from next year by those for the areas of Gòtic–Catedral, Sant Pere–Santa Caterina–La Ribera and Barceloneta.

Testing for the new Bus Zone 4.0 in July

The new Bus Zone 4.0, the new model for a more orderly and efficient management of tourist groups arriving in the city on coaches, will be implemented with a trial stage in July, even though the prevision is for the new pricing to start being applied in the autumn. On average, each coach will see the current payment of 20 euros per day rise to around 80 euros, meaning an increase in municipal revenue in this sphere.

The development of the new system requires a reorganisation of stops and the creation of surveillance tools for spaces.