The Girona tourism sector has expressed its opposition to the government's recent decree on flats, warning of the serious repercussions this could have for the area. Several associations, including the ATA, the Girona Tourist Board, the FOEG, the Chamber of Commerce and the APIO Association of Girona, have expressed their concerns at a press conference.
Joan Company, President of the Costa Brava-Pyrenees Girona Tourist Apartment Association (ATA), stated that the new regulation could lead to the suppression of 17,000 Housing for Tourist Use (HUT) licences in the area, causing an estimated loss of 5,000 jobs and negatively affecting the income of local establishments. In addition, an estimated 500,000 visitors are expected to disappear during the summer season.
The associations have described the regulation as "negligence" on the part of the government, accusing it of taking a "populist measure" without adequately addressing the residential emergency. Antoni García, vice-president of ATA Girona, criticised the lack of prior consultation with the sector and questioned the unjustified blaming of tourism for the lack of housing planning.
It is anticipated that the reduction in the supply of tourist flats will have a negative impact on local economic dynamics, affecting supermarkets, bars and restaurants. Although entrepreneurs foresee a minimal impact on the housing market, they point out that the regulation is not adjusted to the differences between cities such as Barcelona and smaller municipalities.
In response to this situation, the associations are preparing a legal offensive and seeking the support of the parties with parliamentary representation. They urge mayors and town councils to show their rejection of the regulation, arguing that the government has transferred a responsibility without considering municipal needs and realities. The press conference also included statements from representatives of the Girona Association of Property Administrators, the Girona Guild of Building Developers and Constructors and the Palamós Chamber of Commerce.
