ACABA: The Voice of Those Silenced in Barcelona’s Tourism Conflict

ACABA: The Voice of Those Silenced in Barcelona’s Tourism Conflict

As the City of Barcelona continues its campaign against short-term rentals, a new movement has emerged to challenge the one-sided narrative: ACABA, the Association of Affected by the Barcelona Housing Conflict. This grassroots organization represents hundreds of citizens—property owners, local hosts, families, and small agencies—who feel criminalized and abandoned by their own administration.

Why ACABA Was Born

ACABA is not a corporate lobby. It is a citizens’ response to policies that, under the guise of protecting housing, have systematically eroded the rights of those who operate legally and responsibly within the vacation rental sector.

Formed in 2024, the association’s goal is simple: defend the dignity, voice, and legal rights of those unfairly grouped with illegal operators and foreign speculators.

A Necessary Counterbalance

Until now, public discourse has been dominated by anti-tourism rhetoric, often equating all short-term rentals with gentrification and housing scarcity. What gets ignored:

• Thousands of families depend on regulated rentals to supplement their income or secure their pension.
• Local agencies employ staff, pay taxes, and invest in neighborhoods.
• Many affected are multi-generational residents of Barcelona who have done everything by the book.

ACABA gives these citizens a platform.

Fighting Stigma, Reclaiming Legitimacy

One of ACABA’s key objectives is to challenge the stigmatization of legal hosts. Through press releases, community forums, legal workshops, and media campaigns, the association is reminding the public and the City Council that:

• Legal tourist apartments are not black-market assets.
• Responsible tourism supports, rather than harms, the city.
• Hosts are not villains; they are your neighbors.

Collective Action and Legal Defense

ACABA also plays a vital role in organizing collective legal actions to:

• Appeal unjust fines and license revocations
• Advocate for transparency and due process in inspections
• Propose realistic, proportionate alternatives to outright bans

This coordinated response has begun to shift the tone of the debate, forcing city authorities to engage with the complexity of the issue.

For more on ACABA’s legal actions and public stance:

• https://www.elsaltodiario.com/turismo/airbnb-acaba-anfitriones-barcelona-multas-demanda
• https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/acaba-anfitriones-barcelona-conflicto-vivienda_1_1023458.html
• https://english.elpais.com/spain/2024-05-16/barcelona-hosts-sue-airbnb-over-fines-for-unlicensed-rentals.html
• https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spains-top-court-backs-barcelonas-rental-ban-2025-03-11/
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2024/06/21/barcelona-announces-plan-to-ban-tourist-rentals-by-2028/

A Model for Other Cities?

What is happening in Barcelona is not isolated. From Lisbon to Amsterdam, cities are struggling to regulate tourism fairly. ACABA may serve as a blueprint for other communities facing disproportionate crackdowns on legitimate short-term rental activity.

Conclusion: Balance Starts with Dialogue

ACABA is not asking for deregulation. It is asking for fairness. For regulation that distinguishes between responsible and abusive practices. For laws that are predictable, transparent, and proportionate.

The future of tourism in Barcelona cannot be built by silencing one side. It requires the participation of all stakeholders—residents, guests, hosts, policymakers, and businesses.

Thanks to ACABA, that conversation has finally begun.