Warning as Spain faces £25bn blow after fresh 'tourist crackdown'

The state has introduced a fig of measures to tackle overtourism successful caller years, including restrictions connected abbreviated word rentals - but it could travel astatine a precocious cost

Spain is taking measures to curb overtourism, but it could pb to a staggering £25bn deficit, economists person warned.

In an effort to code the interaction of tourism connected section lifestyles, Spanish authorities person introduced respective regulations, including section rules controlling short-term rentals. Malaga precocious took the bold measurement of banning caller short-term flat rentals successful 43 neighbourhoods deemed "tourist-saturated", portion Barcelona volition prohibition each short-term rentals from 2028.

A survey by Oxford Economics, utilising information from Eurostat and Airbnb, suggests that this regularisation could outgo Spain €30 billion, equivalent to implicit £25 billion. The study besides indicates that it could jeopardise 2% of Spain's GDP and 400,000 jobs wrong the country.

Rental level Airbnb criticised Spanish officials for formulating these regulations "without taking into relationship important considerations", specified arsenic agrarian oregon municipality settings and whether the enactment is occasional oregon dedicated. In a statement, it argued: "This has resulted successful wide bans successful immoderate cities, wide restrictive determination regulations oregon excessive bureaucracy that is driving retired those who transportation this enactment connected an occasional basis, chiefly families, without solving immoderate of the problems," arsenic reported by Majorca Daily Bulletin.

Airbnb further underscored the affirmative interaction of rental activities connected families, agrarian regions and tiny businesses. It concluded by arguing that these regulations are being scapegoated for "the scapegoat for the large lodging challenges," that Spain is presently grappling with.

However, assorted locations successful Spain are grappling with the contented of overtourism, which has led to a lodging situation and an 80% surge successful rent implicit the past decade. Airbnb has recognised this contented and is collaborating with governments to alleviate the lodging crisis, proposing a regulatory exemplary based connected 4 principles, reports the Express.

Firstly, it suggests a wide favoritism betwixt concern activities done tourer rentals dedicated solely to short-term rentals and occasional accommodation successful household homes. Secondly, it emphasises the value of a single, free, online registration strategy that aligns with EU rules.

Thirdly, it advocates for evidence-based, data-driven, proportionate, non-discriminatory and justified rules. Lastly, it proposes regulations tailored to the needs of little frequented and lesser-known areas, specified arsenic agrarian regions, arsenic opposed to the complexities of municipality areas, promoting the dispersion of trips passim Spain.

Rising rents person caused overmuch hardship successful Spain, peculiarly successful areas that invited successful a batch of tourists. According to Menorca, "accessing a location successful the Balearic Islands has go a practically intolerable mission" - successful nary tiny portion due to the fact that the average terms of a country in a shared level changeable up 17.5% successful 2024, ending connected 574 euros per month.

The 'Shared lodging successful Spain successful 2024' survey recovered that the terms of an mean country roseate from 489 euros per period successful December 2023 to 574 euros per period successful December 2024. In Spain, lone Catalonia, wherever 636 euros per period are required to rent a room, and Madrid, with 586 euros, are much expensive. Both of those areas person importantly higher mean salaries than the Balaerics.

Last twelvemonth a Majorcan governmental enactment announced plans to “degrow” tourism connected the Balearic Islands with a 40 per cent chopped connected tourer accommodation. Més per Majorca tabled strict caller measures to the Balearic authorities successful October, designed to importantly trim wide tourer numbers.