Reason Behind ‘Spain banning tourists’!

New restrictions are set to affect tourists visiting in Spain. Authorities in the popular holiday destination increase measures to curb the impacts of over tourism. Policies to prevent over tourism are already underway for places in popular destinations like Barcelona, Mallorca and Tenerife. From this year, they will also be coming to Malaga, in the country’s Costa Del Sol region.

The move has come to tackle locals’ concerns about overcrowding in the city. Property prices and rents are becoming increasingly rapidly i.e. not affordable for them over tourism.

The move follows the wave of anti-tourist protests. These protests have spread across the country and other European destinations over the past year.

Although it has been called a “tourist ban” by some, the new rules won’t stop tourists from visiting the country. It will, however, have some impact on how Britons should plan for their holidays.

The plans target the influx of holiday rental properties. As with several other locations, these rentals can increasingly be found in the city’s central districts. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said: “It isn’t fair. Those who have three or more apartments as short-term rentals pay less tax than hotels. It is also unfair that workers face the same issue.

“The government’s duty is to prioritize residential use of housing. It must prevent speculative and touristic uses from expanding in a totally uncontrolled manner. This expansion should not come at the cost of residents.”

For the next three years, new holiday rentals cannot be registered in any of Malaga’s 43 districts. This policy matches those in place in areas across Spain.

Spain has implemented new regulations to combat over tourism. These take effect in January 2025. The regulations target short-term holiday rentals in cities like Malaga, Barcelona, and others. These measures aim to resolve housing shortages, environmental issues, and cultural erosion caused by the surge in tourism. They also focus on preserving residents’ quality of life and local community identity.