By Pako Rodríguez, consultant specialized in tourism. (Original publication in Spanish)

Barris que Molen, the project to promote regenerative tourism in the Sant Andreu district that we launched with the support of the Barcelona City Council and Barcelona Activa, started on March 23 with two online training sessions that served as an introduction to the participants. 

The agents, local communities, and interested individuals from the Sant Andreu district helped to raise awareness of the initiative and allowed for the discovery of the vision of the local residents regarding tourism, the district itself, and the impact of Barris que Molen on local economic development. What’s the secret? Collective work.

Collaboration between districts and involvement of the commercial axis: keys to success

The sessions showed that there was already an interest in seeking meeting points and ideas in the district to attract visitors in a sustainable and respectful manner towards the environment and residents. Sant Andreu has a wide variety of attractions with culture and history in its DNA, and all of them can generate a visitor economy, which is very much needed at this time.

Local organizations from Sant Andreu contacted

To achieve this, the help and collaboration between districts that connect this part of the city with the centre of Barcelona is key. Thanks to the sessions, we were able to learn about the work and create synergies with the Sustainable Tourism Association Ethnic (AETHNIC), which is carrying out a sustainable tourism initiative in the Poblenou district under the framework Impulsem el que Fas.

Moreover, the potential of Sant Andreu was confirmed as a district with a very marked commercial axis linked to the residents. The involvement of this collective in the project is necessary and valuable since a destination is tied to the local offerings available. 

Respect for the local community as the basis of the project

Reflection and critical spirit were also part of the sessions with the participants. Tourism, in general, can be associated with the uncontrolled growth of visitors that can affect the daily lives of residents. A fact that can be negative for both travelers and locals. 

However, Barris que Molen aims to promote a different, local, and not 'pre-produced' tourist experience. Conversations with the attendees revealed the need to establish an initial purpose as a destination, to open channels of communication with local agents, and to prioritize regenerative tourism, sustainable, respectful, and with a positive impact as the ultimate goal of every initiative. 

Next steps

On April 27, from 9:30 to 13:30, phase 2 of the project will take place with a participatory workshop in the Sant Andreu district. Implementing all safety measures with limited capacity, we will work for four hours to jointly analyze the district, its capacity, resources, and environment, anticipating what will come after the pandemic and what type of visitors to attract. 

The methodology Pentagrowth - CARE, for the development of sustainable tourist destinations, will be the working tool of the session with which to anticipate the trends that will define the tourist sector and the visitor economy post-COVID in an environment marked by a station, La Sagrera, that will change everything.

After the workshop, three collaborative projects that have an impact on the development of an attractive and regenerative offering that inspires visitors will be promoted and followed up for two months by the Ideas for Change team. 

The goal is to create viable projects so that once the project is completed, these initiatives can continue and become the beginning of Sant Andreu as a pole of attraction for responsible visitors seeking to experience a real and different Barcelona.