This would include products that contain “homophobic or sexist” content. From phallic bottle openers to branded shot glasses, tacky souvenirs are never hard to find in a tourist hotspot. But one European city is looking to bring in regulations on just how tasteless these gifts can be.
Barcelona city council is considering banning the display and sale of souvenirs that are “offensive or in bad taste”. This would include products that contain “homophobic or sexist” content. One local councillor has called the stalls and shops touting these wares a “shabby mess” that “degrade” the city.
Councillor Jordi Coronas has criticised the poor taste of souvenirs on display in the streets of Ciutat Vella, the oldest neighbourhoods in the city of . These include "penises with the Barcelona brand and t-shirts with sexist, homophobic or simply bad taste messages. “[They] devaluethe most visited streets in Barcelona," Coronas said.
“They are a shabby mess, which degrades the image of as a tourist destination.” Earlier this week, Coronas and other councillors put forward their proposal to regulate . The motion by the pro-independence party Esquerra was approved by the economic commission of the city council, allowing them to look into prohibiting "offensive" souvenirs.
It comes just a week before celebrations will kick off in the city. ’s deputy mayor for economy, Jordi Valls, reportedly supports the initiative and has promised that the city government would examine.
