British holidaymakers to suffer THREE YEARS of new restrictions

On January 27, 2025By Littum

British holidaymakers face new restrictions in Spain as one of the country’s top tourist destinations is set to implement a three-year “tourist ban”.

The ban on registering holiday homes across 43 districts came into effect on January 14 – and comes in response to widespread anti-tourist protests that swept across Europe last summer.

The ban is aimed at the Costa del Sol’s capital, Malaga, where local residents have long expressed concerns about the impact of mass tourism on natural resources and the housing market.

The restrictions mark a significant shift in Spain’s approach to tourism management as authorities seek to address the growing challenges of overtourism in popular destinations.

The ban is aimed at the Costa del Sol’s capital, Malaga

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The new restrictions are specifically aimed at areas where holiday rental exceeds 8 percent of the blocks of flats in a district.

The ban prevents new registrations of holiday homes – but does not affect the 13,000 properties that are already officially registered in Malaga City.

Tourist apartments registered since February 22 that lack independent access and separate resources from housing departments will have their licenses revoked.

The measure represents an immediate response from Malaga City Council and the Costa del Sol to control an increase in rental properties in the city’s most congested areas.

British tourists can still book Airbnbs, hotels and other accommodation in all 43 affected districts of Malaga.

MORE TRAVEL WARNINGS:

The ban prevents new registrations of holiday homes – but does not affect the 13,000 properties already officially registered in Malaga City

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Existing vacation rentals, including the 13,000 properties already registered in the city, remain available for tourist bookings.

However, the restrictions mean that UK holidaymakers will have fewer new rental options becoming available in popular areas over the next three years.

The measures are specifically aimed at property owners looking to register new holiday homes, rather than tourists looking to book accommodation.

The ban aims to preserve the character of Malaga’s historic centers while maintaining visitor access to existing registered properties.

Similar restrictions have already been implemented in Alicante and Madrid over the past year, and Seville and other Spanish cities are expected to follow suit.

The Malaga ban could potentially extend beyond its original three-year period.

British tourists visiting Spain now face additional paperwork requirements unrelated to rental restrictions.

Visitors must provide more detailed personal information, including bank card details, family relationships and home addresses, when signing up for a car rental or hotel stay.

This measure was introduced by Spain’s Ministry of the Interior at the end of 2024 to help the police track down criminals operating in Spain.