In recent developments, the Spanish government has initiated a stringent review of Airbnb listings, calling for the removal of nearly 66,000 properties that allegedly violate regulations pertaining to tourist accommodations. This decisive action occurs as opposition to over-tourism surfaces, especially in the Canary Islands, where thousands of demonstrators protested last Sunday.
Social Rights and Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy stated that the cited properties, distributed across six autonomous regions including Madrid, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands, have breached housing norms for tourist use. Following a ruling from a Madrid court, Airbnb is mandated to withdraw 4,984 specific listings, with further legal evaluations pending for the remaining properties deemed unlawful.
Bustinduy heralded the court's verdict as a triumph for advocates seeking to uphold housing rights, asserting that economic interests must not supersede housing needs. The growing housing crisis, characterized by skyrocketing rental costs, has turned into a pressing concern for many Spaniards, especially in metropolitan areas where average rentals have surged over the past ten years, outpacing salary growth.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez echoed this sentiment earlier this year, stating, “there are too many Airbnbs and not enough homes,” pledging to curtail the rampant use of properties for tourist accommodation. Local administrations are responding variably; for example, Barcelona plans to eliminate its 10,000 short-term tourist apartments by 2028.
In contrast, Airbnb has vowed to challenge the court's ruling, defending its role as merely a platform for property listings and arguing that regulations targeting the company do not resolve Spain’s broader housing crisis. The company maintains that inadequate housing supply underlies the affordability problems faced by citizens.
As Spain approaches record tourism figures, with foreign visitors projected to reach 94 million by 2024—a 13% increase from the previous year—the landscape of tourism-related protests continues to evolve. Demonstrations, such as those in the Canary Islands advocating for limits on tourist accommodations, reflect a mounting public frustration regarding the repercussions of over-tourism on local communities. Activists in Majorca are gearing up for their own protests, titled "Less tourism, more life," echoing the call for a sustainable approach to tourism nurtured through equitable housing solutions.
Social Rights and Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy stated that the cited properties, distributed across six autonomous regions including Madrid, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands, have breached housing norms for tourist use. Following a ruling from a Madrid court, Airbnb is mandated to withdraw 4,984 specific listings, with further legal evaluations pending for the remaining properties deemed unlawful.
Bustinduy heralded the court's verdict as a triumph for advocates seeking to uphold housing rights, asserting that economic interests must not supersede housing needs. The growing housing crisis, characterized by skyrocketing rental costs, has turned into a pressing concern for many Spaniards, especially in metropolitan areas where average rentals have surged over the past ten years, outpacing salary growth.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez echoed this sentiment earlier this year, stating, “there are too many Airbnbs and not enough homes,” pledging to curtail the rampant use of properties for tourist accommodation. Local administrations are responding variably; for example, Barcelona plans to eliminate its 10,000 short-term tourist apartments by 2028.
In contrast, Airbnb has vowed to challenge the court's ruling, defending its role as merely a platform for property listings and arguing that regulations targeting the company do not resolve Spain’s broader housing crisis. The company maintains that inadequate housing supply underlies the affordability problems faced by citizens.
As Spain approaches record tourism figures, with foreign visitors projected to reach 94 million by 2024—a 13% increase from the previous year—the landscape of tourism-related protests continues to evolve. Demonstrations, such as those in the Canary Islands advocating for limits on tourist accommodations, reflect a mounting public frustration regarding the repercussions of over-tourism on local communities. Activists in Majorca are gearing up for their own protests, titled "Less tourism, more life," echoing the call for a sustainable approach to tourism nurtured through equitable housing solutions.
