A popular store in Barcelona has put up a sign warning tourists that they will be charged if they leave without buying anything. The fee will be about UAH 200. at the current rate. Such measures were taken by the store specializing in the sale of alcohol Queviures Múrria, because of the crowd of curious travelers, reported the British newspaper Express.
Entrance is free – exit is paid
An unusual sign has appeared in an antique store that attracts visitors with its authentic antique clocks and beautiful mahogany furniture. Now visitors who enter inside, if they intend to leave without purchases and have taken a selfie, are obliged to pay. The management of the store explained this unusual decision by the desire to deal with tourists who only take pictures without buying anything. Store manager Tony Merino clarified: “We don’t charge for visitors who just want to pop in and have a look, the other problem we have is the selfies.” In this regard, a sign with the following content appeared in the shop window for some time: “Come in, just take a look and take a picture – five euros per person (200 UAH), thank you.”
Established in 1898, interest in this landmark shop has grown significantly since it was awarded awards by tourist sites and the Barcelona City Council. After that, the place turned into one of the most popular places for tourists. It was clarified that the sign appeared as a joke of the store employees, and so far no money has been demanded from any of the tourists.
According to Statista, in 2022 alone, the number of travelers who visited Barcelona exceeded 99 million people, while its population is only 1.7 million people – 58 times more tourists, which made this city one of the leading tourist destinations in Europe. However, not everything is so smooth. With its presence, the endless stream of tourists annoys residents, which causes concern for the authorities.
Overtourism in the city, especially in the historic Gothic quarter with its narrow streets and boutiques, is constantly accompanied by complaints from residents. They complain about overcrowded streets and the noise created by visitors. The city of Barcelona has already announced its intention to increase taxes for tourists who come to the Spanish city for the day on cruise ships.
However, it is worth noting that Barcelona, despite its popularity, is not an overpopulated city in Europe. A Croatian city has overtaken a Spanish city to top the list of Europe’s most overcrowded tourist destinations, according to the latest figures – read here.