Spain is set to introduce new rules aimed at curbing overtourism, which will affect tourists, particularly from the UK. While the country is not implementing an outright ban on visitors, the new measures are expected to influence how British travelers plan their trips, especially in popular destinations.
The restrictions are part of an ongoing effort to manage the impacts of overcrowding, especially in cities like Barcelona, Mallorca, Tenerife, and now Malaga in the Costa del Sol region. These policies respond to growing local concerns over rising property prices, rents, and the strain on resources caused by high numbers of tourists.
As part of the measures, authorities are targeting the growing number of holiday rental properties, particularly in central Malaga. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasized that the government aims to prioritize housing for residents, rather than allowing speculative, short-term rental practices to continue unchecked. He noted that property owners renting out multiple apartments for short stays are benefiting from lower taxes compared to hotels and local workers.
Starting this year, new holiday rental properties will not be allowed to register in any of Malaga’s 43 districts. This move mirrors similar policies already in place across Spain. For British tourists, this means that while hotels and other accommodations remain unaffected, some private rentals registered after February 2024 may face cancellations if they lack separate utilities or entrances from permanent residents.
These changes also come in the wake of a nationwide law requiring travelers to provide more personal information when booking accommodations or car hires in Spain.
Other anti-tourist measures are also being implemented across Spain. In cities like Alicante, Madrid, and soon Seville, authorities are tightening regulations, including charging entry fees for popular tourist sites like Seville’s Plaza de España. Additionally, Barcelona is set to ban short-term tourist apartments by 2028. Mallorca has limited the number of cruise ships allowed to dock, and Tenerife has imposed a cap on visitors to its national parks.
While these changes are designed to balance tourism with the needs of residents, they will certainly impact how tourists experience Spain in the coming years.
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