> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Barcelona to Buy Shops with Tourist Tax - URL: https://barna.news/barcelona-to-buy-shops-with-tourist-tax/ - Published: 2026-10-15T08:32:01.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-15T08:32:56.000Z - Description: City plans to use tourism revenue to purchase commercial spaces and protect local businesses in high-traffic areas. - Author: Barna.News - Tags: tourism ## City Aims to Preserve Local Commerce Barcelona City Council plans to use funds from the tourist tax to buy commercial properties in the city centre, aiming to safeguard local businesses against rising tourist-oriented retail. The move, announced on Thursday 15 October 2026, forms part of a broader strategy to rebalance the city’s commercial landscape, where traditional shops are being rapidly replaced by souvenir stores, mobile accessory vendors, nail bars, and cannabis shops. ### Using Tourism Revenue for Local Benefit José Antonio Donaire, Commissioner for Sustainable Tourism Management in Barcelona, stated that the city intends to acquire commercial premises to ensure they serve local residents. These purchases will be funded by the tourist accommodation tax, which brought in €148 million in 2025, making it the second-largest source of municipal income after the IBI property tax. > We want to buy commercial premises to guarantee their use for residents, and this acquisition will be funded by the tax on tourist overnight stays in the city. Donaire confirmed that the project is already in development, with legal and administrative frameworks being prepared. He expects the plan to be presented by the end of 2026 and implemented throughout 2027. ### Broader Strategy to Manage Tourism Pressures --- This initiative complements a recently announced municipal fund to acquire strategically important or emblematic local businesses, a measure inspired by Parisian urban policy. That plan requires changes to regional regulations by the Government of Catalonia under Salvador Illa, allowing the city to exercise a right of first refusal on key commercial properties. Barcelona has previously led in regulating tourism impacts, including halting new tourist flat licences since 2014, with all such licences set to end by 2028, and increasing local tourist tax rates for cruise passengers. The city also plans to raise the IBI tax by up to 150% on tourist flats and impose new charges on tour coaches parking within city limits. ### Support for Neighbourhood Businesses The city’s *Impulsem el que fas* programme already provides subsidies of up to €10,000 for local businesses in high-footfall areas such as Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and La Rambla. These grants target shops under 200 square metres and aim to strengthen services that meet residents’ daily needs. A dedicated support service also assists shopkeepers in these zones with business continuity, succession planning, and accessing resources. These efforts align with the new Eixample Usage Plan, which seeks to prevent commercial saturation in the district, home to 14,000 businesses. ### What This Means for Residents While details on how and when properties will be acquired, such as whether they will be bought when vacant, at lease end, or on the open market, have not yet been released, the city’s direction is clear: reinvest tourism-generated revenue into preserving local economic life. For residents, this could mean more stable access to essential services and a more balanced urban environment. Further updates are expected by the end of the year. --- *Primary sources:* [*ajuntament.barcelona.cat*](https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/turisme/en/high-traffic-areas-ega/ega-program/promoting-local-commerce-activity?ref=barna.news)*,* [*Barcelona City Council*](https://www.barcelona.cat/infobarcelona/en/tema/urban-planning-and-infrastructures/new-regulation-of-premises-in-leixample-to-protect-local-commerce%5F1243951.html?ref=barna.news)*. Reported by elpais.com, elindependiente.com, Euro Weekly News Spain, expansion.com, elnacional.cat.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [Barcelona hails EU stance on tourist flats](https://barna.news/barcelona-hails-eu-stance-on-tourist/) - [Junts Candidate Vows to Keep 10,000 Tourist Flat Licences](https://barna.news/junts-candidate-vows-to-keep-10-000/) - [Barcelona Council Funds Hotel Guild After Tourism Surge](https://barna.news/barcelona-council-funds-hotel-guild/) - [L'Hospitalet Hotels Face New Tourist Surcharge](https://barna.news/l-hospitalet-hotels-face-new-tourist/)