Barcelona welcomes millions of British tourists every year, many of whom walk through its most iconic streets – from Las Ramblas to Passeig de Gràcia.
As it happens in many holiday hotspots, where there is a concentration of tourists there are also shops and sellers ready to offer various trinkets to remember the city by, from t-shirts to magnets.
But a few councillors in Barcelona fear certain types of souvenirs, including some described as “homophobic or sexist”, can “degrade” the image of the city.
Councillor Jordi Coronas used as an example the souvenirs on display in the streets of Ciutat Vella, the oldest neighbourhoods in the city of Barcelona, which he said include “penises with the Barcelona brand and t-shirts with sexist, homophobic or simply bad taste messages”.
He added: “[They] devalue the most visited streets in Barcelona. They are a shabby mess, which degrades the image of Barcelona as a tourist destination.”
Mr Coronas and other councillors sharing similar concerns have put forward a proposal to regulate souvenirs.
The motion was approved by the economic commission of the city council, bringing the city one step closer to banning “offensive” souvenirs.
Barcelona’s deputy mayor for economy, Jordi Valls, highlighted the uphill battle against souvenirs, saying “regulatory criteria on the content or aesthetic quality of the souvenir” can’t be set by current regulations.
