The Airbnb Invasion of Barcelona

Park Güell’s shift from a shared public space into a cultural zone occupied almost exclusively by tourists is understood by some worried residents of Barcelona as a story about the prospective fate of the city itself. Currently, one and a half million visitors stay in Airbnbs in Barcelona annually, and although five times as many people book rooms in traditional hotels, the company is influencing what the city feels like, especially for permanent residents. The city then began a program of urban regeneration, using a familiar strategy—designating an area as a cultural zone and constructing museums and academic institutions intended to change its tenor by attracting new visitors and residents.

Source: www.newyorker.com