Is Spain cracking down on UK tourists? Malaga implements new rules to tackle growing number of visitors
Is Spain cracking down on UK tourists? Malaga implements new rules to tackle growing number of visitors
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Spain is undoubtedly the favourite destination of many British holidaymakers hoping for a week full of sun, beach days and sangria. But in the last few years, it seems that tourists are a subject that divides Spanish citizens. Only last year did locals in Barcelona make headlines for spraying tourists with water guns during protests where they claimed that visitors were taking over the city.
In response to these protests, which spread to tourist hotspots including Mallorca and the Canary Islands, Malaga seems to be the next area to take action. Keep reading to discover how. Don’t fret – you will still very well be able to enjoy your Malaga holiday as usual this year. However, Costa del Sol capital announced a ban which prohibits any new registrations for short-term holiday rentals, effective from January 14, 2025.
Existing rentals, hotels and Airbnb will continue to house tourists (except for a small number of rentals that were registered after February 22, 2024), however, the registration of new ones in the area’s 43 districts will be prohibited. Additionally, tourist accommodation registered after February 22, 2024 that lacks independent access separate from residential spaces will lose their licenses – which could present a problem for people who use Airbnb.
The ban – which is set for three years but anticipated to last for longer – is in response to concerns raised by local people concerning a lack of affordable housing and increasing rents due to overtourism. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said of the ban: “It isn’t fair that those who have three, four or five apartments as short-term rentals pay less tax than hotels or workers.”.
