The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 is about to arrive in Barcelona and with it, a flurry of tourist activity and security measures in the city.
According to data from the Association of Tourist Apartments of Barcelona (Apartur), tourist apartments are expected to reach an impressive 95% occupancy rate during the week of the event, from Monday, February 26 to Thursday, February 29, 2024, with an average stay of 4.5 nights.
This high occupancy is largely due to the presence of congress participants who, year after year, choose this type of accommodation for their stay during the MWC.
However, this edition of the MWC is marred by the uncertainty caused by the new Catalan decree on tourist accommodation, which could have a significant impact on the city’s accommodation offer.
Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona
The Barcelona Tourist Apartments Association has launched an information campaign to alert attendees to this situation, warning that Barcelona could lose its ability to host large-format events if these restrictions are implemented.
The decree, approved by the Parliament on December 20, establishes that owners of tourist apartments will have five years to apply for a tourist planning license, while new tourist apartments will have to obtain a municipal license and a tourist authorization before opening.
Although these measures seek to regulate the tourist lodging market, they also generate concern among the sector’s stakeholders, who fear a significant reduction in the supply of lodging available in the city.
Event accommodations and security
In addition to accommodation concerns, MWC also brings with it security measures to ensure the smooth running of the event.
Parking restrictions have been announced on several roads in the Ciutat Vella, Sants-Montjuïc and Sant Andreu districts, most of which will be in force during the days of the congress. Parking will also be prohibited on several streets, such as Trelawny Street and Queen Maria Cristina Avenue, among other stretches.
These restrictions are in addition to a reinforcement of the public transport service, with the aim of facilitating the movement of attendees and minimizing traffic congestion.
In addition, metro and rail services will be reinforced to meet the increased demand and facilitate the movement of attendees. There will also be a shuttle bus service connecting Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina with the Fira Gran Via, where the congress will be held.
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) is one of the most important events in the world of technology and year after year, attracts thousands of participants from all over the world to the city of Barcelona.
