The Barri Vell Neighborhood Association has shown its support for the proposal promoted by Guanyem to suspend the granting of licenses for new cycle tourism establishments in the historic center of Girona. The initiative is being debated in a context of growing neighborhood concern about the impact of intensive tourism on the daily life of the neighborhood.
Neighborhood complaint to curb intensive tourism
The neighborhood association considers the suspension of licenses to be a necessary tool to protect life in the Barri Vell. The association has pointed out that the measure could be extended to other businesses exclusively linked to tourism, citing the proliferation of tourist apartments in the area as an example.
"Limiting licenses does not mean stopping economic activity, but rather organizing it with social, balance, and urban sustainability criteria" - Associació de Veïns del Barri Vell
According to the statement, residents lament that for years establishments solely intended for visitors have proliferated, while essential local services and businesses for the neighborhood have disappeared. The association emphasizes that a neighborhood cannot be just a pretty backdrop for festivals; it must include the elderly, families, children, university students, and an active community network.
Division in the municipal government and request for participation
The proposal comes from Guanyem, which leads the tripartite government in the Girona City Council along with Junts and ERC. However, it does not have the support of the entire governing team, as Junts has positioned itself against the suspension of licenses.
The association insists that the neighborhood must be heard when the future of the Barri Vell is decided. They demand to be an active part in the development of the proposal and ask to prioritize uses that keep the neighborhood alive year-round, not solely focused on tourism, which they consider to be driving out residents and making daily life more expensive
Defense of the right to live in the Barri Vell
The statement concludes with a call to defend the right to reside in the historic center as a guarantee of a fairer, more livable, and cohesive city. The association warns that without residents, there is no neighborhood and that, without a community network, the Barri Vell loses its essence.