Barcelona, a city grappling with overtourism and a severe housing crisis, has recently announced its intention to eliminate all tourist rentals by 2028. This move, the most drastic yet in Spain, has garnered mixed responses from both local Catalans and the city’s large foreign-born population, now comprising 25% of residents.
Local Support for the Crackdown on Holiday Rentals
Residents like Mika Casalis see this as positive news. "Every summer the rent soars through the roof," Casalis explains. Amanda Ditzler, who previously lived in a building with 15 Airbnbs, shares similar sentiments, expressing concerns about safety and the disruptive behavior of tourists.
"I felt unsafe," Ditzler says. "On weekends, the building was overrun with tourists treating the premises like a hotel. Most people in Barcelona won’t miss tourist rentals."
However, some foreign residents, such as Brian Lund Larsen and Alex Nowakowski, are skeptical about the effectiveness of this measure in addressing the housing crisis. "I'm not sure it'll do much for rent prices," Brian admits, "but I just don't want to be woken up by parties from drunk tourists."
Alex adds, "Eliminating thousands of legal Airbnbs in a city of 1.6 million is not going to solve the problem. The focus should be on building more housing."
Broader Clampdown Across Spain
Barcelona is not alone in its efforts. Other Spanish cities have also taken steps to regulate tourist rentals:
Madrid: With over 14,000 tourist apartments, the city council has temporarily suspended new tourist licenses.
Valencia: Issuing new licenses has been suspended for at least a year, and the Valencian police are cracking down on illegal rentals.
Seville: The city will not renew licenses for tourist rentals in key neighborhoods of the historic center.
Málaga: Restrictions ensure new tourist apartments must have their own separate entrance, limiting applications.
Hanni Martini, a food expert based in Málaga, acknowledges the housing crisis but stresses the importance of tourism for the economy. "Tourism is our single biggest industry," she notes, suggesting sustainable tourism practices as a solution.
The Bigger Picture: Ownership and Impact
A significant factor in the debate is the ownership of tourist rentals. According to Barcelona City Council, 65.2% of tourist license holders own five or more apartments, indicating that big businesses, rather than individuals, dominate the market.
For many locals, the crackdown is a step in the right direction. While it may not solve all the issues, it aims to balance the needs of residents with the pressures of tourism.
Barcelona's bold move to ban tourist rentals by 2028 reflects a growing trend across Spain to address overtourism and its impact on housing. While opinions vary, the consensus among locals is that these measures are necessary to reclaim their neighborhoods and make housing more accessible.
Source: Euronews
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