A POPULAR holiday hotspot is turning its back on tourists as fury boils over rising rents, unaffordable homes, and “low-quality” visitors.
Malaga has decided to cancel its plans to construct 1,300 tourist accommodations and is contemplating imposing a full prohibition on selling land to foreigners. This could mark a significant turning point for Spain’s sunny coastlines.
The city’s Mayor, Francisco de la Torre, has announced that the municipal council is considering implementing extensive new regulations through the General Urban Planning Document (PGOU), which might entail a complete ban on non-Spaniards purchasing property in the capital of Costa del Sol.
He admitted the drastic rethink includes “a global moratorium” on tourist developments.
De la Torre added: “We want to determine how tourism can be made compatible with everyday city life.”
This unexpected decision follows widespread protests against tourism, with thousands of demonstrators gathering in 40 Spanish cities over the weekend. These activists are advocating for actions like using superglue to seal locks on holiday rental properties and preventing tourists from accessing beaches.
Graffiti, fake beach closure signs, and even arson attacks on rental cars have rocked the southern coast, with campaigners declaring war on tourism.
De la Torre confirmed that Malaga has already prohibited new holiday apartments in 43 neighbourhoods, including Centro, La Merced, and Malagueta.
A specialist company has been hired to track “illegal holiday homes” and steer the crackdown.
“We are a municipality clearly committed to this,” he said.
The backlash isn’t new — but it is escalating.
Brits are particularly vulnerable post-Brexit, losing their EU privileges while Dutch, German, and French buyers still benefit from freedom of movement and ownership rules.
Activists accuse politicians of letting tourism spiral out of control and pricing out locals.
“We feel defenceless because of tourism,” said Lucia Vazquez, 23, at a protest in Seville.
“They should start to control it more.”
A spokesman for the group Malaga Is For Living raged: “Everything over the last few decades has been done to turn the centre of Malaga into a tourist amusement park that only benefits a few.”
Another protestor, Lina Castillo, a tourist guide, said: “I can’t find a flat anywhere on the coast for less than €900 (£760) and we’re talking 50 square metres.”
Some residents are now actively sabotaging the industry.
A message circulating online urged: “Please vandalise all the locks you see. Go super glue mad.”
The growing hostility follows a string of protests last summer that saw tourists sprayed with water pistols in Barcelona and angry mobs confronting sunseekers on Majorcan beaches.
Campaigners are demanding tougher controls on Airbnbs, higher flight prices, caps on tourist numbers, and taxes on empty homes.
An open letter urged Brits to stay away, reading: “ENOUGH! STAY HOME! We do not need more tourists… DO NOT COME.”
Joana Maria Estrany Vallespir from SOS Residents, who co-wrote the letter, warned: “The local population is angry, and we are no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed, and many residents are having to emigrate.”
Spain’s tourism industry — worth billions — has long been the lifeline of coastal towns.
But with the summer season fast approaching, the clash between locals and holidaymakers is only set to intensify.
Anti-tourist measures sweeping hotspots
A WAVE of anti-tourist measures are being implemented across Europe to curb mass tourism in popular holiday hotspots.
Overcrowding has become the main problem in many sunny destinations, with authorities trying to find a solution to keep tourists and locals happy.
Officials have attempted to reduce the impact of holidaymakers by implementing additional taxes on tourists, or banning new hotels.
Earlier this year Venice became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for holidaymakers after it started charging day-trippers €5 (£4.30) if visiting the historical Italian centre.
It was followed by an area in Barcelona which resorted to removing a well-used bus route from Apple and Google Maps to stop crowds of tourists from using the bus.
Meanwhile, San Sebastián in the north of Spain, limited the maximum number of people on guided visits to 25 to avoid congestion, noise, nuisance and overcrowding.
The city has already banned the construction of new hotels.
The Spanish government has allowed restaurants to charge customers more for sitting in the shade in Andalucia.
Benidorm has introduced time restrictions, as swimming in the sea between midnight and 7am could cost a whopping £1,000.
The Canary Islands are also considering adopting measures to regulate the number of visitors – and charge tourists a daily tax.
Greece has already enforced a tourist tax during the high season (from March to October) with visitors expected to pay from €1 (£0.86) to €4 (£3.45) per night, depending on the booked accommodation.
Officials in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia want to introduce a fee for travellers to remind people to be courteous during their trips.
