Malaga holiday home bookings decline after protests and rumours of ‘tourist ban’

Holiday home bookings in the Spanish resort city of Malaga have fallen by tens of thousands after a turbulent year of protests against tourists, it was reported. Reservations for tourist apartments were down by some 37,000 in the peak season last year, Spanish newspaper The Olive Press said. The fall in demand came from locals, who may have been more aware of the sensitivies surrounding what some see as oversaturation of the tourism market, and rising rents.

According to the Tourist Apartment Occupancy Survey, 571,773 people stayed in apartments between July and November compared to 609,277 reservations during this period in 2023. Malaga’s College of Economists told the paper they attributed this to falling domestic demand, as well as a decrease in the holiday accomodation available. The figures showed that while Spaniards were avoiding Malaga, with a drop from 213,598 to 152,192, over the same period demand actually increased from foreign tourists.

Last year during the period, 419,581 travellers from abroad were logged, an jump from 395,679 in 2023. While the reasons for the overall decline were not specified, it comes after high profile protests against over-tourism. Several protests have been held across Spain and the Canary Islands calling for tougher regulation to tackle the issues. One popular slogan across Spanish hotspots has been ‘Tourist go home – we spit in your beer’, or even ‘p*ss’ if you’re especially unlucky.

Protests are focused on the difficulties for local residents, who find their housing stock is being taken up with shortterm rentals, while rents for the remaining properties increase. But some are also annoyed with tourists for other reasons too, concerned at a perceived lack of respect for the culture. Last summer, official posters were put up all around Malaga warning people in English and Spanish to to ‘dress completely’, AKA keep their tops on in public.

It seems authorities are listening to concerns. A new three-year law was introduced in Malaga last month, which has been dubbed a ‘tourist ban’ by some. The term is misleading – the law doesn’t ban tourists from anywhere, but it does prevent the registration of any new holiday rentals across 43 districts in the area. The measure, introduced by Malaga City Council and Costa del Sol on January 14 and expected to last beyond the initial three years, aims to stop the rise of holiday-rental properties in the most crowded parts of the city and give locals a better chance of finding long-term lets.

Yes, holidaymakers can book hotels, Airbnbs and other accommodation as normal despite the new law. The only existing accommodation that will be affected are holiday flats registered since February 2022 that do not have access and resources separate from those for permanent residents. These lets will have their licences cancelled, reports the Mirror. Similar bans have been introduced in Alicante and Madrid over the past year, and more cities, including Seville are set to follow suit.

If you’re a resident from the UK or another non-EU country and hoping to buy a home in Spain (holiday or permanent) you’ll soon have to pay 100% tax on the property. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the change as part of a number of measures to tackle Spain’s housing crisis. Set sail to the Mediterranean in 2025 – here's all you need to know. Private beach clubs, Art Deco delights and the world’s second-largest reef on the ultimate Caribbean cruise.

Top 10 travel brands you need to know about for tour next adventure. My first safari holiday was as magical as it looks in the movies. The 'most isolated metropolis on Earth' where the next big city is 1,305 miles away. Taxes on holiday lets will also be raised, which could lead to rentals becoming more expensive for holidaymakers. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.

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