According to Statista, inbound tourism is one of Spain’s major economic drivers. The number of international visitors was 104.6 million, and expenditure was 69.2 billion. Barcelona stands out as the most visited Spanish city for overnight visitors.
When you are on the ground, it is easy to see why. The markets, the food, the buildings, the beach, what more do you want? Well, this has come at a cost, and now the mindful tourist is becoming ever-conscious of its footprint. Today, Barcelona is suffering a major ongoing drought.
Reading an article in Le Monde provides some stark statistics. “Catalonia has had little to no rain for over three years now. Since autumn 2020, the accumulated rainfall deficit has exceeded 500 millimetres, the equivalent of a year’s rainfall in Barcelona.”
What will the beautiful coastal towns of Catalonia look like if the current drought continues, which has made it impossible for government officials to ignore the consequences of climate change?
Strolling through the bustling streets of Barcelona, the eye-catching billboards featuring a simple red plastic bucket and the poignant message “Water doesn’t fall from the sky” serve as a stark reminder of the critical water scarcity gripping Catalonia and beyond.
With over six million residents in the region facing strict water usage restrictions amid an official drought emergency, the daily rhythms of life are profoundly altered. From barren parks to dry fountains and shuttered showers, the impact reverberates through every facet of daily life.
This isn’t an isolated plight confined to Catalonia; the entire Spanish Mediterranean coast, and indeed much of Europe, grapples with the sobering reality of climate disruption. As temperatures soar and rainfall becomes increasingly scarce, the consequences are felt far beyond parched landscapes and barren fields.
Also Read: The climate change and gender equality connection: How to support underfunded women-owned business
Hotels resort to filling swimming pools with seawater, farmers face the gut-wrenching decision to abandon entire fruit crops, and iconic industries like olive oil production falter under the relentless heatwaves.
Amidst this turmoil, frustrations simmer, boiling over into protests that echo across Spanish cities, highlighting not only the immediate grievances of farmers but also deeper concerns about bureaucratic hurdles, international competition, and environmental sustainability.
Against this backdrop, political discourse often seems detached from the urgent realities on the ground, leaving citizens disillusioned with mainstream politics and vulnerable to the allure of populist rhetoric.
As Catalonia grapples with a drought emergency, the glaring dissonance between political priorities and pressing environmental challenges underscores the pressing need for meaningful action and collective resolve in confronting the existential threat of climate disruption.
Will virtual environments provide an alternative for eager tourists?
The metaverse offers a taste of a place, a culture, and a set of values that may otherwise be foreign to us. Virtual landscapes exist to be explored but also to be designed.
Could Barcelona residents re-imagine the city in a virtual space? Projects like Upland mimic themselves in the real world as they understand the importance that the vast majority of people place on their homes.
A country is an identity, a flag, a set of values, and a cultural representation of where you come from and what you like. Most of all, it is a sense of belonging and a community feeling that nobody from the outside can understand
Yes, in practical terms, Barcelona residents will have the chance to regain how tourists experience their city. However, they may not enjoy the interpretation of their city, culture or neighbourhoods if they stay removed from the design.
With this said, let’s encourage all to explore, discover and provide an escape from societal woes via the metaverse.
—
Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic
Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page
Image credit: Adobe Firefly
The post Will climate change force us to re-imagine travel in the future? appeared first on e27.