Here’s what’s actually happening.
The British media is criticizing Spain’s new policies to combat overtourism. Tabloids are reporting that the popular destination is banning tourists, when in fact, the changes affect tourist rentals.
In November, Malaga introduced a new rule prohibiting new rental properties in 43 neighborhoods where short-term rentals exceeded 8%. The move aims to ease pressure in areas with a high saturation of tourist homes and will be tested for three years. Barcelona made a similar move, announcing it will phase out tourist apartment rentals in the city by 2028, scrapping licenses for more than 10,000 apartments. Cities across Europe are facing a rising housing crisis, and governments are trying to address market inequality by restricting tourist rentals.
The U.K. media, however, spun the latest measures as a three-year tourist ban. The Daily Express ran a headline on Sunday on its website: “Spain’s three-year ‘tourist ban’ – everything we know and what it means for Brits.” The Independent posed the question: “Is Spain banning U.K. tourists? What new rules mean for your holiday.” GB News flipped the narrative, publishing a story on how British tourists will suffer due to three years of restrictions. The headlines fail to offer insights into the problem of overtourism and the cost-of-living crisis Spain is currently facing.
Clarifications came from various sources later. The policy won’t significantly affect tourists, as they will still be able to book hotels. But the knee-jerk reaction from the U.K. media is nothing new. Local protests last summer were also poorly received in the media. Tabloids ran stories about how British travelers were affronted by protests and vowed not to return.
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British nationals are the top visitors to Spain—17.3 million traveled to the country in 2023. The Spanish Tourist Office called for a sense of perspective and told the Independent that the protests were exaggerated by the U.K. media. “We do have to stress that in most instances, negative feelings and protests are not directed towards tourists themselves but more towards policy and macro issues which impact people’s livelihoods such as access to housing and the cost-of-living crisis,” the statement said.
Recently, Spain also faced backlash for asking hotel guests to share more than 40 personal details, including sensitive information such as banking details and addresses.
Spain Against Overtourism
The crisis in Spain isn’t tourism itself but the sheer volume of people cities are hosting at the same time. The cost of living has increased, and people can’t find housing due to the rise in Airbnb rentals. Locals are being pushed out of their neighborhoods, and even those who remain feel a loss—their communities are being taken over by tourists.
Last year, Barcelona removed a bus route from Google and Apple Maps because it was so crowded that locals couldn’t get home. In Mallorca, people have stopped visiting their old spots; natural resources are being stretched thin; and the culture is becoming homogenized.
These are some of the reasons why Spanish cities have repeatedly featured on Fodor’s No List—in 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2025.
Overtourism is a complex and nuanced problem, and each destination is addressing it differently. From banning big cruises to taxing tourists more, governments are experimenting with a range of legislation. Tourists often face the brunt of the blame, but sadly, there is no silver bullet or one-size-fits-all solution. What travelers can do is make responsible choices—for themselves, for the destination, and for the environment.
Related: Summer’s Over But Spain’s Overtourism Problem Is Far From Gone
