Barcelona’s Mayor Jaume Collboni has announced a plan to eliminate short-term tourist rentals in the city by 2028. The move aims to address the city’s housing crisis, which has seen rents skyrocket by 70% over the past decade.

Under the new policy, the 10,101 current tourist rental licenses will not be renewed when they expire in November 2028. This decision effectively removes these properties from platforms like Airbnb and Homeaway, making them available to local residents instead.

Collboni claims the impact of this measure would be the same as constructing 10,000 new homes. Barcelona has long grappled with housing shortages, exacerbated by high tourism rates and its growing status as a tech hub attracting foreign workers.

The announcement has sparked debate among local politicians. Left-wing councillors argue that 2028 is still too far in the future, given the urgent nature of the housing crisis. Conversely, right-wing opponents claim the policy infringes on property rights.

The Association of Tourist Apartments of Barcelona criticized the plan, suggesting it may lead to an increase in illegal tourist rentals. They described the policy as a “smokescreen” to cover perceived failures in the mayor’s housing strategy.

Protests against over-tourism 

This decision comes amid widespread discussions across Spain about the impact of mass tourism on local communities and the environment. Recently, Malaga, another popular coastal destination, saw 15,000 protesters demonstrate against over-tourism. 

Demonstrators, organized by the Malaga Tenants’ Union and supported by numerous organizations including Greenpeace and Oxfam, voiced concerns about feeling displaced in their own city. They carried banners saying “Malaga is for the people of Malaga, tourism forces us out”, and “One more tourist is one less local resident.”

The protest, which took place under the slogan “Malaga to live in, not survive in,” reflected growing anxiety about the transformation of residential areas into tourist zones. Protesters criticized the proliferation of short-term rental apartments and the replacement of local businesses with franchises catering to visitors.

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