MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Catalonia has held the referendum on independence from Spain, with more than 90 percent of the voters casting their ballots in favor of secession, according to regional authorities. Madrid declared the referendum illegal and deployed law enforcement agents in the region in an attempt to prevent the vote from happening.
STRIKES AND PROTESTS
Supporters of independence vote and security forces have had several altercations in the last two months, raising concerns over the region's security and stability, which is crucial for foreign investors.
Almost 900 people were injured in clashes on the day of the referendum, according to the Catalan government.
Several unions and movements have called for full or partial strikes to be held on Tuesday. The metro traffic was disrupted, some businesses and schools were shut down in Barcelona.
In September, Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said that Catalonia's economy could decrease by as much as 30 percent if the region split from Spain.
CATALAN REAL ESTATE TO STAND TALL
Tensions between Madrid and Catalonia are not affecting the real estate market at the moment and foreigners are likely to keep buying property in Barcelona and neighboring towns, according to Tine Mathiassen, a founder of a Danish real estate company Casamona International based in Barcelona.
"For us [the Referendum] is not important — we deal with foreigners. They don’t care … at least now," Mathiassen told Sputnik.
"We don't expect it to be very bad. But the next 2 weeks it will be until the Spanish government will give them a better deal," the businesswoman added.
Barcelona has experienced a real estate boom in the last few years, alongside the rest of Spain, in a rebound after property value plummeted in 2007-2008, sending the whole country into prolonged recession.
STILL WELCOMING TOURISTS
Touristic agencies have a mostly positive outlook on the business prospects, only slightly tinged with concern.
"We think that it shouldn’t affect [tourism] at the moment," Iris Bargallo Arraut, co-founder and executive manager of Barcelona Zero Limits S.L., specializing in tourism and inclusive tourism, told Sputnik.
Tourism has been the pot of gold for Catalonia and its residents through the years. A warm seaside, beautiful towns and architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona keep attracting foreign visitors.
The recent events, including clashes between referendum supporters and the police, will not be able to diminish Catalonia's appeal for tourists as long as the region and Madrid reach an agreement, in the end, Vadim Konev, owner, and director of Iberica travel company said in a telephone conversation with Sputnik.
"If there are no riots, if they agree with the central government, then, I think everything will calm down and some kind of long-term effect will not occur," Konev said.
The businessman admitted that tourism was the first sector to suffer in case of any "unrest, riots, any outstanding events," but added that he was not expecting Catalonia to secede. According to Konev, Catalonia might even receive some concessions.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has refused to recognize the referendum but added that the government was ready to lead a dialogue within Catalonia.
