Tourist flat decree: six Alt Empordà councils push back

Six town councils in the Alt Empordà, including Castelló d'Empúries, have come out against the Catalan government's new rules on tourist flats. They join a wider group of coastal municipalities in the province of Girona that are calling for the regulation to be reviewed.

The Alt Empordà councils are Castelló d'Empúries, el Port de la Selva, Llançà, l'Escala, Roses and Sant Pere Pescador. Elsewhere on the Costa Brava, Begur, Calonge i Sant Antoni, Castell d'Aro, Platja d'Aro i S'Agaró and Pals have taken the same position. In total, around ten councils in the Girona area have now signed a manifesto against the decree. Several have also passed formal motions in their municipal plenary sessions.

What the decree says

The regulation in question is Decree 3/2023, issued by the Generalitat, Catalonia's regional government. Under the decree, town councils would again be able to grant licences for tourist flats. In many municipalities, however, the number of licences allowed would be very limited.

Critics say the rules lack proven and justified data. They also argue that the decree fails to meet the principles of proportionality and does not guarantee that it will work. According to the manifesto, these are basic principles that any legislation should follow.

The Associació Turística d'Apartaments (ATA), which represents the tourist apartment sector, is also against the decree. The association believes the regulation would have a serious impact on the local economy and would lead to a shortage of tourist accommodation.

Three new councils in August

The most recent councils to back the motion were Pals, Llançà and el Port de la Selva. They joined Castelló d'Empúries, Roses and Sant Pere Pescador, which had already given their support.

Llançà approved its motion on 3 August. The text states that legally authorised tourist flats are part of the town's accommodation offer. It says they help keep the destination competitive. The motion also asks the Generalitat to open a round of talks.

El Port de la Selva approved a similar declaration on 13 August. The council described regulated tourist flats as a cornerstone of many municipalities. It said thousands of local businesses and companies depend on them. The text also points out that this type of accommodation has existed on the Costa Brava since the 1960s and is a fully established activity. Like Llançà, el Port de la Selva wants the decree to be reviewed and asks for dialogue with the regional government.

Sant Pere Pescador signed up to the manifesto in defence of HUTs on 5 August. HUT stands for "habitatges d'ús turístic", the Catalan term for homes used as tourist rentals. The council's text says decisions affecting each town's tourism model should take into account local social conditions and specific needs. It adds that tourist flats help spread tourism beyond the peak season and support a more sustainable economic model.

Backing from the county council

The campaign has also won the support of the Consell Comarcal de l'Alt Empordà, the county council that coordinates services for the region's municipalities. Ten Costa Brava mayors have signed the manifesto under the slogan "For a balanced, regulated tourism model that generates prosperity".

The document describes the regulated sector as a cornerstone of many municipalities in the Girona counties. It also includes a ten-point list setting out the reasons for defending it.

ATA meeting in Pals

The ATA held its second working meeting in Pals. Participants warned that applying the decree would reduce the supply of tourist accommodation. They said this would have a major negative effect on the local economy and on tourism.

The meeting also stressed the need to highlight the value of the sector. Those present discussed the new European regulation on the matter and the need to "find solutions".

Our Take

For readers in Empuriabrava, this is not an abstract debate. Holiday rentals are part of daily life along the canals and in Castelló d'Empúries, whether you own a flat, rent one out, manage properties or simply live next door to one. The fact that the town council has joined the opposition suggests local authorities see the decree as a direct threat to how the area's tourism works.

The arguments put forward by the councils follow a familiar line. They point to jobs, to the long history of holiday flats on the Costa Brava and to the role of rentals outside the summer months. The support of the Consell Comarcal gives the campaign more weight at county level.

It is worth watching whether the Generalitat agrees to the talks the councils are asking for, and whether more municipalities join the manifesto. How the new European rules fit in with the Catalan decree could also shape the outcome. For owners, the key question will be how many licences Castelló d'Empúries would actually be able to grant if the decree is applied as it stands.