Spaniards much more confident in economy, survey finds

Over half of Spaniards believe that the country’s economy is finally performing well, nearly a decade after the worst recession in recent memory hit.

A survey by international consulting firm GAD3 found that 52.5% of Spaniards are confident that Spain will boast one of Europe’s best-performing economies this year, echoing forecasts from leading economists that suggest the nation is at the forefront of growth…

This is an 11.3% increase in optimism since the same survey last year, and reflects the average Spaniard’s own experience, with more jobs and improved employment security the welcome reality for a growing number of the population.

In fact, a Barcelona-only poll conducted by the City Hall found that employment and working conditions concerns are no longer the main worry of Barcelona residents – the first time since 2009 that the issue of jobs and job security has been knocked from top spot.

However, that poll did reveal a growing bugbear for Barcelona residents – tourism. The city’s popularity as a cultural, beach and party hub continues to rise globally, bringing in cash and prestige but damaging some residents’ own livelihoods.

Concerns over tourism topped the poll for the first time ever, prompting deputy Mayor Gerardo Pisarello to declare: “This isn’t a problem of ‘tourist phobia’; people in Barcelona like to travel and appreciate tourists visiting. It is about a concrete malaise caused by overcrowding in certain districts.”

In 2016, Barcelona recorded nine million official overnight stays, but the City Hall reckons that this figure is closer to 30 million once other rental options such as private lets and Airbnb are taken into account.

Barcelona has famously announced plans to limit tourism numbers, with the council now refusing to grant any additional new hotel licences in the city.

The success of Barcelona’s image has been great for its economy – and the same holds true for Spain in general – but, much like the improving job market, the country still has some work to do to ensure the economic growth benefits as many people as possible.