October against Turistification was rounded off last Sunday with a multitudinous demonstration in favor of the tourist growth of the Bizilagunak platform, but the debate on turistification is still alive in the city. In particular, they have contacted the tourism of... [+]
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friday 02 may 2025
Automatically translated from Basque, translation may contain errors. More information here. 
FIFA is asked to revoke San Sebastian’s host designation at the 2030 World Cup
- The venues of the World Cup in Spain, Morocco and Portugal were announced in December. Bilbao and San Sebastian were on the list. Six neighborhood associations in San Sebastian have, by letter, asked FIFA to reject the city’s designation of residence; FIFA itself speaks of the “collapse” of the city.
Bizilagunekin plataformak urteak daramatza Donostiaren turistifikazioaren aurka lanean. Dani Blanco / ARGIA CC BY SA
The letter has been reported by VivaLagunEkin, which is also among the signatories. Here are the other five: Living in the Old Part, the Neighbourhood Association of the Old Walnut Tree (IZBE), the Heriz platform (Antigua), the Living Truth, the Neighbourhood Association of Herripe (Herrera) and the Neighbourhood Association of Ulia.
The associations have denounced that San Sebastián is going through a "brutal process of tourism, which has accelerated significantly in the last decade and is causing serious damage to its residents". The argument was based on data: "Between 2015 and 2024, the number of hotels in the city increased by 40.3%, the number of places to stay offered by 69.2% and the number of visitors to the city increased by 77.8%." It is also indicated that in those years the purchase price of housing has increased by 47.36% and the rental price has increased by 44.54%.
As a result, the associations denounce that "local" citizens are being "expelled" from the city, that "public space is being transformed according to commercial interests", that "infrastructures are designed according to the needs of the tourism industry" and that "local language and culture are fetishized for marketing purposes".
FIFA also talks about “collapse”
They also denounced that the "collapse" is foreseen. FIFA itself detailed in its report on the candidacy of Morocco, Portugal and Spain: "The number of accommodation places available in San Sebastian will not be enough to accommodate the number of visitors expected to be attracted by the World Cup." In other words, during the holiday season, San Sebastian’s accommodation capacity is pushed to the limit, not to mention the organization of a world-class football tournament. However, while FIFA acknowledges this, it suggests that it is a “slight risk.” In fact, the report indicates the proximity of Biarritz or Bayonne "to support the overflow of San Sebastian".
The associations, therefore, denounce that "if the World Cup is played in San Sebastian, the event will increase the tourism of the city" and that "public institutions will continue to play for the benefit of the tourism industry". As a result, FIFA has been asked to reverse its decision and has been told that “the only way to respond to the harms of tourism growth is to embark on the path of tourism growth.”
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