Barcelona is to try and curb the drink culture of boozy Brits who spend a weekend in the city knocking back beers and falling around drunk. After all, if British visitors enjoying quiet Barcelona city breaks wanted to see that kind of behaviour, they could stay at home.
Whenever I’m doing a Barcelona city guide I’m afraid to say that I’m ashamed of some of my fellow countrymen who just seem to be using the occasion to drink as much as they can. After, the capital of Catalonia has so much more to offer from the Sagradia Familia church to the Barri Gotic and the hip Born district, all of which are covered on our Barcelona iPod tour.
But Barcelona isn’t the only place trying to bring about this change. Florence is also hoping to encourage quality rather than quantity when it comes to tourism. When I was there last week updating our Florence audio guide I was impressed with the city officials I met who want to make the city look smarter and persuade people to spend a bit longer there – and spend a bit more money.
Instead of just queuing to get into the Uffizi and buying an apron with David’s genitalia on it, tourists should spend a few days in the city, says its new mayor, and should see some of the other museums and sites that it has to offer. They should experience the new, innovative side of the city from its smart new restaurants and bars to the Palazzo Strozzi with its Contemporary art gallery and imaginatively staged shows of Renaissance art.
Will these brave cities actually succeed? I don’t know – but I hope so.