Anti-Tourism Measures - Facts

Could anti-tourism protests and new measures to combat the housing crisis put off foreign buyers in future? 

Sticking to the theme of Spain’s housing crisis, anti-tourism protests in Spain in 2024 reached record numbers. And we're beginning to see measures being put in place by various local authorities to combat the problems that have arisen as a result of over-tourism. Barcelona has vowed to stop any new short-term rentals in the city by 2028. In Málaga city activists say the post-pandemic tourism boom has pushed locals to the limit by distorting the rental market and gentrifying the city centre, as a result, general city planning guidelines have been adapted to prevent new holiday rentals from being registered as of 14 January 2025. 

Things have been coming to a head in Ibiza too, as Claudia Zezukiewiets from Let Us Ibiza points out; “tent camps grew as many families struggled to find affordable housing. It’s a serious issue that will take time to fix, but efforts have started… 1,000 more properties are currently being renovated or are under construction. Personally, I think solving this problem will have a very positive effect on the island sentiment in general.” 

Will these new measures put off foreign property buyers? Looking at the data, it seems unlikely, at least for now. Interest in Spanish real estate is not slowing down.