Objectives

The Association of Amics de La Rambla was founded in 1960 with the aim of defending and promoting the social, commercial, and cultural interests of this world-famous promenade.

In its more than 60 years of history, the Association of Amics de La Rambla has led the promotion and regeneration of the promenade with campaigns defending the interests of residents and merchants.

Currently, the Board of Directors of Amics de La Rambla aims to improve the quality of life of the residents of La Rambla and to enhance the quality and diversity of commercial offerings. This will be achieved through:

• La Rambla is the main promenade of our city and it must lead this role as a central space and hub of civic activity. All types of events (cultural, leisure, protest, and festive) must be allowed to take place on the promenade, even during the renovation works. Use by both visitors and locals should be seen as an opportunity and not as a reason to divert activities elsewhere in the city.
• Dignification of the surroundings of La Rambla, Plaça Catalunya, and the Mercè neighborhood: these should be safe, well-maintained, and clean spaces, also during the renovation works-a Rambla that serves as a meeting point between locals and visitors.
• It is necessary to collaborate with administrations and security bodies to combat recidivism, theft, illegal street vending, the recruitment for cannabis clubs, can collectors, and drug trafficking. Good maintenance and cleaning must be ensured in areas not affected by the renovation works.
• La Rambla is the interclassist axis connecting the city and the sea, the Gothic Quarter and the Raval, and it should become a loudspeaker for making the city's cultural, creative, and artistic initiatives visible.
• Culture is one of the distinctive elements of the promenade. We must promote what we have and facilitate the presence of new attractions in this field, especially by recovering empty buildings on La Rambla as well as commercial premises for new cultural, creative, and artistic uses.
• We want to maintain and strengthen social activities, also during the renovation: Festa Major de La Rambla - Festa del Roser, Tast a La Rambla, Vila del Llibre, Sant Jordi, Ramblista d'Honor Awards, FEM Paelles at La Rambla, Passejada de Catrinas, Christmas at La Rambla.
• It is necessary to launch new artistic and cultural projects that help us promote and disseminate the heritage and knowledge we have about La Rambla: its history, mobility, economy, demography…
• Facilitate external activities taking place on La Rambla that foster aspects such as culture, art, tangible and intangible heritage of La Rambla…
• Special care must be taken of the Boqueria Market, as a market for La Rambla, the Raval, the Gothic Quarter, and for the people of Barcelona.
• We must enhance the presence of flowers on La Rambla.
• The commercial, gastronomic, and tourist accommodation offer must be diversified and improved so it is equally attractive for locals and visitors. The creation of a BID/APEU (public-private management area) would facilitate management, development, and economic promotion.
• The current balance between residential, commercial, and tourist uses of the buildings along the promenade, which has been maintained on La Rambla for many years, must be respected. In this regard, the Amics de la Rambla association was a pioneer in Europe in promoting a Special Plan to preserve this balance. At the same time, a new Plan is needed to address future challenges regarding the commercial offer on the promenade. The current diversity of accommodation types must be respected, including those targeting family tourism.
• Creation of the Rambla Observatory: Within the Project for a New Model of Urban Tourism 2023-2027, incorporate Big Data and information and intelligence systems to better understand La Rambla and its surroundings, as well as its role within Barcelona as a whole, in order to make informed decisions. Consolidation of Amics de la Rambla in the field of promoting sustainability in economic activities on La Rambla.
• Support is needed for the rehabilitation of buildings, accessibility, installation of elevators, and improvement of acoustic and thermal insulation.
• It is necessary to improve the connectivity of La Rambla, and thus the Ciutat Vella district, with the rest of the city.
• All of these changes must be linked to the promotion and defense of the tangible and intangible heritage of the promenade.

Promotion of La Rambla

• Enhance the specific values and personality of La Rambla.
• Act at every opportune moment to achieve the widest possible exposure and promotion of La Rambla and its artistic heritage.
• Promote La Rambla as a meeting point at local, national and international levels, with special emphasis on extraordinary events.

Improvement of Coexistence and Civic-Mindedness

• Defend La Rambla in the following fields: civic, commercial, cultural, and housing.
• Ensure that La Rambla preserves the dignity and tradition that has always characterized it.

Defense of the Interests of Residents, Friends, and Merchants

• Unite and promote the commerce of La Rambla.
• Ensure the commercial dynamism of La Rambla.
• Defend the interests of Residents, Friends, and Merchants before the institutions.