The La Boqueria market registers close to 80,000 daily customers in an environment saturated by mass tourism. 85% are foreigners and only 15% are from Barcelona, an imbalance that has led Jordi Mas, director of the venue and president of the Merchants Association, to propose raising the quota of local buyers to 50%.
The measure seeks to recover the original function of the space as a neighborhood provider against its drift towards tourist attraction. The merchants flatly reject the City Council's proposal to establish a paid entrance and maintain free admission for all visitors without distinction of origin.
Consumption exceeds photography
But he defended his position on the program Buen día, Barcelona by underlining the active commercial nature of the place versus mere contemplation.
"we are not a museum" - Jordi Mas, director of La Boqueria
The executive argued against the idea of charging exclusively tourists because they generate real income at the stops. Contrary to what many people believe, they also consume, they don't just take photographs. This dynamic sustains the internal economy of the market and justifies keeping the doors open without tariff barriers.
Reconnection with Raval
It is contemplated to recover the entrance to the Plaça de la Gardunya to physically reconnect with the Raval neighborhood and balance the flow of people. Mas stated that this opening is necessary and positive, because whenever things happen in the Gardunya, the market changes radically. The objective involves linking La Boqueria to a complete experience that includes consumption in the eleven existing restaurants.
The council plans to move the stops in phases to a tent in the aforementioned square during the future renovation works. The merchants received the news of the move through the media and many put their hands on their heads due to the lack of prior consultation.
"We don't want unanswered questions" - Jordi Mas, director of La Boqueria
There is also tension regarding the possible Sunday opening, a measure that Mas suggested due to the economic benefits derived from the central location. Merchants are mostly opposed to extending the hours, although the final decision rests exclusively with them. Uncertainty about the logistical details of the move now dominates the guild's internal agenda.