Category: Top » Recreation-and-leisure » Travel » Destinations »

Author: bcndave | Total views: 48 Comments: 0
Word Count: 655 Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 3:12 AM

Barcelona Metropolis – Why Everyone wants to be in Barcelona!

Barcelona is probably one of the top destinations on the planet at the moment. Tourism is as good as ever, business is booming, and the desire to live in the Catalan Capital from expats and foreigners is ever growing. However, Foreign Policy, in conjunction with the Washington Post, recently released its top 60 Global Cities index, and you may be surprised to hear that Barcelona wasn’t in there.

The list takes into consideration 5 key dimensions; Business Activity, Human Capital, Information Exchange, Cultural Experience and Political Engagement. Of the 60 cities listed not all are Capital cities, and when you compare the global reach that Barcelona has, I think you’ll agree that it merits a place on the list.

Barcelona is a business city, there’s no doubt about it. Apart from having an enviable geographical position in Europe (extremely central), there are hundreds of flights arriving to Barcelona El Prat airport daily (not to mention the new speed link of the AVE train from Madrid), and the city centre is a mere 20 minute taxi ride away. The Catalan Capital also boats 2 of the most sought after Conference centres in Europe. The “Fira de Barcelona” welcomes over 3.5 million people each year, playing host to over 150 shows and fairs. 2009 will see the “Fira” be proud host for the 5th year running of the 3GSM mobile phone conference, perhaps one of the most important conferences in today’s technology climate. Across town at the Forum of Cultures location is the International Conference Centre of Barcelona (CCIB) – the biggest conference centre in Southern Europe. Barcelona’s population is around 1.7 million and also hass one of Europe’s most important ports.

With Regards to cultural Experience, Barcelona Boasts 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites , numerous Michelin Starred Restaurants, Some of the finest architecture and art galleries in Europe and also the famed Mediterranean Cuisine. Despite the Government Headquarters being in Madrid (which did make the list at number 14), the Catalan government plays a big role in decision-making and should not be ignored. Information exchange relates to “how well news and information is dispersed about and to the rest of the world. The number of international news bureaus, the amount of international news in the leading local papers, and the number of broadband subscribers round out that dimension”. Well, this may all be about to change with the current development of @22 area of the city – the new high-tech, wi-fi neighbourhood of the city with some of the biggest Spanish Institutions already on board.

However, perhaps the main reason I think Barcelona should have been included is because of its unprecedented urban gentrification – the process of transforming the lower-class regions of a city into high valued areas. Before the property crash of 2008, Barcelona was one of the most expensive cities to buy property in when compared to the average wage. There are many activist groups who protest regularly about housing prices and the lack of help from the government, locally or at national level. Since the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona has seen a massive improvement with a colossal injection of funding to bring the city into modern day Europe – and with amazing success. The constant clean-up that Barcelona is still experiencing serves as a model to other cities around the world. The aforementioned Forum of cultures, the massive tourism industry, meticulous restoration of the old town and other districts (greatly subsidised by the city council) led to the royal Institute of British Architects to award in 1999 its gold medal to the entire city of Barcelona instead of an individual. Famous architect Sir Richard Rogers is also heading an “Urban Task Force” which is said to provide “Barcelonization” of 10 British cities, including Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Perhaps Barcelona slipped through the net this time round, but I don’t think it will take long to climb the ladder and cement its position in the upcoming Global Cities Index.