An opinion piece in iSabadell points out that the current tourism model, while generating income, precarises employment, raises housing costs, and drives out residents. The city is not immune to metropolitan pressure.
The debate over mass tourism is no longer exclusive to Barcelona. An opinion article published in the digital newspaper iSabadell warns that Sabadell suffers the consequences of an economic model that turns housing into a financial product. The real estate pressure from the capital extends throughout the metropolitan area, and Sabadell is not left out.
The tourism model under scrutiny
The text, signed by a writer from the outlet, criticises the argument that “tourism feeds many people” as only telling part of the story. The other part includes the expulsion of residents, the rising cost of housing, and the degradation of public space. The article argues that the problem is not the tourists, but a system that prioritises private profit over collective well-being.
According to the article, neoliberalism has elevated the market to supreme judge, turning cities into commodities. “Everything has a price and everything must generate profits: housing, land, historical heritage, beaches, squares, and even the identity of neighbourhoods,” the text denounces.
Direct impact on Sabadell
Although Sabadell does not receive millions of tourists each year, the real estate pressure from Barcelona is transferred to its metropolitan belt. “Thousands of people are looking for housing in cities like Sabadell because they can no longer afford the prices in the capital,” the article explains. This increased demand, combined with an insufficient supply of affordable housing, contributes to rising rents.
The article emphasises that in housing and urban planning, the “not yet” often turns into “it’s already too late”. The city does not degrade suddenly, but gradually, with small decisions that seem innocuous until the whole changes completely.
What to do? Proposals to curb speculation
The text rejects the idea that there is no alternative. Mass tourism does not arise spontaneously, but is the result of public policies that have favoured speculation. The article calls for a strong commitment to public and protected housing, effective regulation against speculation, and a more diversified economy.
“It is necessary to put the collective interest ahead of private profit,” it concludes. This is not about banning travel, but about subordinating economic activity to the well-being of residents. The article poses a key question: “Who are our cities built for? For those who live, work, study, and age in them, or for those who see every neighbourhood as a business opportunity?”
The answer, according to the author, will determine the future of Sabadell and many other cities. Accepting that the market decides who can stay and who must leave is a political choice that can be changed. “Defending vibrant, diverse, and liveable cities requires starting from an unrenounceable principle: the city belongs first to the people who make it possible every day, not to the market,” it concludes.
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