Bad drought in Spain's Catalonia may force water restriction on tourists

Tourists near the famous La Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, where a drought alert banner is on display. — AFP

Spain's drought-stricken northeastern Catalonia is considering imposing water restrictions on tourists in the driest parts of the region if domestic consumption is not curtailed, the Catalan government said recently.

The restriction of 100 litres per tourist per day for hotels would go into effect if a municipality fails to keep domestic water use by residents below established limits for three consecutive months under the current “drought emergency” for Catalonia, officials said.