'Viewing 5 euros': Shop owner devised an innovative way to get rid of tourists who don't want to buy anything

(Patria) - The owner of a shop in Barcelona has devised an innovative way to get rid of tourists who enter the store and only browse, without making a purchase.

"Shop viewing 5€ per person, thanks", reads the sign at the entrance of Queviures Murria, a historic delicatessen shop in Barcelona, which has been operating for almost 130 years (opened in 1898).

Yes, you read that right: the owners are tired of tourists entering and then leaving without any purchase.

However, if you are wondering what it looks like in practice, the shop has not charged anyone for viewing yet.

According to the manager Toni Merino, the intention here is not actually to charge curious onlookers, but to prevent tourists from disrupting the work and business of the shop.

Merino explains that the sign was initially put up as a joke, but it proved quite effective in boosting sales, so it remained.
Now, when visitors come to photograph the shop, they often end up buying a few products.

In addition to spending something, many visitors also show better manners - something the owners felt did not happen while tourists were walking around the shop and photographing everything around them.

This "indestructible" shop is a popular attraction in the city due to its nostalgic advertisements from the 1920s and modernist charm.

Mass tourism is becoming an increasing problem in Barcelona, and this is not the first time that measures have been taken in the city, whether at the municipal or private level, against what they consider undesirable behavior.

Last year, Barcelona banned smoking on all city beaches, introducing a fine of 30 euros for anyone caught doing so, writes Punkufer.hr.

The city is definitely trying to reconcile the growing number of tourists with maintaining the city as clean and livable, and time will tell whether it will succeed.