Locals in Spain have had enough of tourists treating the country like a massive amusement park.
Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world and is a popular tourist destination, particularly for the British, French, and Germans.
Tourism in the country has increased exponentially post Covid, bringing in over €126 billion in earnings in 2024 alone.
While the tourist industry fuels growth, some locals feel left out of Spain’s ‘economic renaissance‘.
Paradox? Opposition to Spain’s Primary Income Generator
2024 saw unprecedented protests against tourism, with residents in cities like Barcelona and Palma taking to the streets in droves.
Local complain that tourism had turned once affordable neighbourhoods into tourist playgrounds.
In other locations like the Balearic Islands and the Costa Brava, residents and ecological groups protested against environmental degradation caused by unchecked tourism.
Sánchez’s Reforms: Good News for Locals, Bad News for Airbnb Hosts
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced unprecedented measures to ease the effects of tourism on the local housing market.
The reforms aim to balance Spain’s reputation as a top tourist destination and concerns from local communities who are increasingly marginalised by tourism.
The new laws seek to severely restrict tourist and short term rentals and increase housing supply for locals.
Multiple municipalities in Spain, including top destinations like Barcelona, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, and Málaga have also sought to implement their own laws restricting short term tourist rentals, which negatively affect the cost and supply of housing for residents.
Barcelona plans to implement some of the most extreme measures- as of March 2025, local authorities have said they will not renew any tourist licences for short term rentals after 2028.
In Málaga, a favourite destination of Britons, a three year freeze on holiday rental registrations has been imposed in neighbourhoods popular with tourists.
Such moves have drawn criticism from Airbnb.
Spain’s New Tourist Rules: Paperwork With a Capital ‘P’
Beyond housing, Spain also seeks to implement stricter rules in general.
Non EU visitors will be subject to increased controls at the border as well as at hotel check ins. One of the new rules in 2025 is Spain’s new requirement of proof of travel insurance for visitors.
The law intends to reduce tourists’ impact on the healthcare system.
Tourists must show proof of travel insurance at the border or risk being denied entry.
Beginning 2025, tourists will also be asked to show their return or onward travel tickets.
For those visiting friends and family, or a third party, a ‘carta de invitation’ and proof of address will be required.
These new updates align with the implementation of the EU’s European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
Balancing Bureaucracy with Consumer Spending
Therefore, tourists will also be expected to have €118 per person per day in their bank accounts, or at least €1,065 for each traveller regardless of the length of their stay.
In a crackdown on organised crime, in 2025 Spanish hotel operators will have to submit over 40 pieces of identification.
Requirements include full names, email addresses, and passport or identification number(s).
Car rental companies will have to submit over 60 pieces of identification for each client. Operators who do not comply may be subject to fines of up to €30,000.
Will Tourist Taxes Stop the Sangria?
Adding to new nationwide regulations, many top destinations like Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, Santiago de Compostela, and Toledo are introducing or increasing “tourist taxes”.
Some locals feel they can finally breathe a sigh of relief, while tourists navigate a new maze of rules and paperwork.
The new rules are a blunt attempt to restore balance—let’s just hope it doesn’t take the fun out of a good sangria by the beach.
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