Barcelona
...highlights in Barcelona, including Palau Guell, La Segrada Familia, Parc Guell, La Pedrera, and Casa Batllo. Museums: The level of public response is one of the keys to success in the ongoing task of improving the city's museums. The number of people who visit Barcelona's fifty or so public and private museums each year is currently 7 million . Two of the most popular museums, in terms of number of visits, are the Museo Picasso and the Fundación Joan Miró. Other museums include the Museu de Geologia, Museu d’Art Modern, Museu Maritim and Drassanes, Museu de la Musica, and numerous others. Shopping: Barcelona has a wide and varied range of shops for all tastes and budgets. Known for its excellent personal customer service, the city has become a magnet for tourists and a very attractive place to shop. Scattered around the city are the Rambla, the Ribera, Placa de Catalunya, Passeig de Gracia, and Diagonal, which attract a large part of the shoppers . However, the larger shopping districts have been developed and expanded with the values of tourists in mind, so they tend to be more expensive, not to mention prime locations for pickpockets to loiter. But hidden around every corner there are local shopping areas. Locally owned shops, city markets and street fairs are tucked away in less congested areas of the city . Multiculturalism: In Barcelona, the official languages are Castilian Spanish and Catalan. Barcelona has become a place of harmonious coexistence and dialogue between the different languages. The signs in most of the city's shops, bars, and restaurants are displayed in both of the official languages, enriching the socio-cultural structure of Barcelona and the daily lives of its people . The impact of tourism and the city's role in housing several cultures means that other languages, such as English, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Arabic, along with a number of Asian languages, are regularly heard in the streets. Barcelona is a creative, multicultural city, and the diversity of its people attracts travelers from all over the world. While the city’s diverse population has many positive aspects, such as increasing cultural awareness and improving understanding of different values and customs, it has negative impacts as well. With the crowding and congestion of so many different people comes loss of local culture, lifestyle and language. The Catalan way of life is unique from any other culture, including that in other parts of Spain . As the number of tourists as well as immigrants increases in Barcelona, the Catalan people must struggle to keep their traditional ways, at the same time allowing themselves to accept the people of other backgrounds who come to visit. Growth: As Barcelona has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, it has had to continue to update and increase its facilities in order to accommodate growth. Hosting the Olympics in 1992 turned into a makeover opportunity for the city. The games brought upgraded transportation and telecommunications systems, as well as new housing and retail centers downtown . The city plans on increasing hotel capacity by an average 1,000 rooms per year for the next three years. It added over 8,500 rooms between 1998 and 2004, and continues to expand at an astounding rate. The airport has also seen new development, and plans on increasing its 2004 capacity of 25 million passengers to 27 million with the addition of a new terminal in 2007. By 2015, it is projected to be able to support nearly 40 million passengers each year . The city launched a new international event in 2004, The Universal Forum of Cultures, further expanding its themes of cultural diversity and sustainable development. Nearly one-third of the visitors to this event were tourists, making the Forum an occasion for the community and its visitors alike . Major Competitors: Spain was listed second in the top ten tourist destinations of 2003, behind only France, and one ahead of the United States . Spain had over 52 million international tourists, with France and the U.S. at 75 million and 40 million, respectively. Spain also saw $41.7 billion from international tourism receipts for 2003, behind the U.S. with $65 billion, and ahead of France, with $36 billion. While Spain is one of the top ten tourist destinations, it is important to note that it falls nineteenth out of world tourism spenders. The U.S. is ranked number one, and France is number five. Due to the continuous appreciation of the Euro, the distribution of tourism flows within Europe was reshaped. More travelers went to Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey and the UK, while less visited France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Butler’s Model: Barcelona is entering the consolidation stage on Butler’s Resort Development Model. Although most of the tourist accommodations in Barcelona are locally owned and operated, the government plays a considerable role in regulating the tourism industry. Hosting the 1992 Olympics greatly affected the tourism industry’s role in Barcelona’s local economy, making it a spot on the map for travelers all over the world. A major part of Barcelona’s economy is tied to the tourism industry. Tourists are even taking over some of areas of the city, Las Ramblas in particular. What used to be a historic avenue with convents, monasteries, and the university is now a busy walkway lined with hotels, shops and cafes. After one visit to Las Ramblas, it is clearly a tourist trap, with street performers, tarot readers, musicians, and mime artists all along the tree-shaded, central walkway. Many immigrants, specifically Africans, come to Barcelona in attempt to take advantage of the tourism industry as well, creating further population congestion and taking jobs away from locals . The city continues to market itself as a unique cultural metropolis full of energy and life. Economic Impact: An increase in tourists always means an increase in revenue, and Barcelona has profited substantially in this industry. Tourism in Barcelona has increased employment, generating income and raising the standard of living. Since tourists are mass consumers and spenders, Barcelona’s numerous shopping districts present the perfect place to spend, spend, spend. However, as visitor numbers continue to increase, the city has had to update and improve public utilities and transportation services. Another downfall economically is the increase in prices and property taxes that occurs simultaneously with increasing demand for goods...