Tourists may be surprised. A vacation in Spain will cost more

The housing crisis in Spain is one of the main reasons for protests against the expansion of tourism in the country. Demonstrations in the mainland and the Canary Islands have long been a cry of helplessness from residents who cannot afford to rent or buy their own apartment. The government wants to put an end to the growth of short-term rental offers, and the first effects of these actions are already visible.

Airbnb to withdraw nearly 6,000 listings

Spain has ordered Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 vacation rental listings from its online platform, as part of a general crackdown on the business, which is blamed for the current housing crisis. Most of the Airbnb listings to be blocked do not include a license number, while others do not specify whether the owner was an individual or a corporation, the Consumer Rights Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

"No more excuses. Enough protection for those who do business with the right to live in our country," Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy told reporters. He added that Madrid's Supreme Court supports the motion to withdraw as many as 5,800 listings . It is possible that Poles traveling to Spain will soon feel this change in the form of fewer listings and an increase in the prices of accommodation available on Airbnb, even if many agree with the law protecting local communities. Malaga has previously taken a similar step - in the sunny city, newly opened properties rented in apartment blocks will have to have a separate, independent entrance through which guests will enter.

The Spanish ministry did not say whether the same rules apply to owners on rival platform Booking.com, although it has been the subject of a separate dispute with that platform. For years, hoteliers have accused it of unfair practices and abuse of dominant position. In March this year, the Spanish National Court provisionally suspended a €413.2 million fine imposed on the service by the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC).

The Platform disagrees with the government

An Airbnb spokesman said Monday that the company would appeal the decision, saying the ministry does not have the authority to rule on short-term rentals and did not provide an “evidence-based list of accommodations that are not compliant.” The spokesman said some of the listings identified as inappropriate were “non-tourist seasonal listings.”

According to official figures, there were around 321,000 holiday let licences in Spain last November, up 15% on 2020. Many more operate without official licences.

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