Barcelona , Spain ( CNN ) -- Catalonia became the first Spanish mainland region to ban bullfighting after its parliament voted Wednesday to outlaw the tradition on animal cruelty grounds . The vote was 68 in favor and 55 against , with nine abstentions . Those who see the ancient tradition as animal cruelty were ecstatic about the vote , celebrating in the street outside parliament . Fans of bullfighting said the decision , however , does not mean it will disappear from other regions in Spain . Some analysts have said Catalan nationalism -- including the desire by some in the region for independence from Spain -- played a part in the vote . The upcoming regional elections for parliament later this year may have also had a role . Bullfighting is an ancient tradition in Spain , and fans say it combines culture , ceremony and artistry . Opponents , however , consider it animal cruelty . Activist Aida Gascon , of the Anti-Bullfighting Party , known as PACMA , said she has attended just one bullfight in her life , and that was only to get a sense of the bull 's suffering . `` Bullfighting is part of Spanish culture , '' Gascon said . `` But that should change . Many traditions disappear as the society advances . '' Enrique Guillen , 24 , lamented that he might be the last Barcelona-born bullfighter to take the `` alternativa , '' or ceremonial fight in the ring against the biggest bulls to become a full-fledged matador , which he did last year at Barcelona 's sole remaining bullring , the Monumental . Guillen 's father worked at the bullring , opening the doors for bulls to charge in to face matadors and their death . `` My father brought me to see the bullfights when I still had a pacifier , '' Guillen said . `` It would be frustrating not to be able to give to my children what my parents gave to me . '' The number of bullfights across Spain has dropped by a third in recent years , mostly because of the budget constraints of local governments , which often fund the spectacles . In Catalonia , there are now just more than a dozen fights a year and the Monumental bullring in Barcelona is one of the few places in the region that still holds fights . A pro-bullfighting group called PPDF released a study predicting big economic losses for Catalonia if bullfighting were banned , mainly because the Catalan government would have to pay damages to the bullfighting industry , which holds long-term operating licenses . `` When the Catalan government and the opposition are working hard to trim the budget , how could they justify making big indemnity payments to the bullfighting industry , when it 's not necessary , '' PPDF President Luis Corrales said . Critics have disagreed , saying the economic impact would be minimal given the small number of fights still held in Catalonia . The proposal to ban bullfighting started as a popular initiative in Catalonia and was accepted for consideration by parliament last year by a slim margin of votes . Since then , there has been an ever-intensifying debate , with bullfighting proponents and opponents gathering support from across Spain , even from abroad . The ban is due to take effect in January 2012 . It will not end bullfighting in the rest of Spain , where it still has a strong following in Madrid and in the south around Seville . Spain 's Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean does not allow bullfighting , but the ban in Catalonia is considered a bigger blow to the tradition .
NEW : Vote supporters celebrate outside parliament . Catalonia is the first Spanish mainland region to ban bullfighting . Its parliament votes to outlaw it on animal cruelty grounds . Bullfighting is an ancient tradition in Spain .