In Spain, short-term rentals surge despite bid to rein in overtourism

Despite government efforts to curb short-term tourist rentals amid a housing crisis, Spain has seen a 25% surge in such accommodations over the past two years, outpacing hotel growth and fueling public backlash over rising living costs.

Short-term tourist rentals in Spain have surged by 25% over the past two years, according to a study by tourism industry group Exceltur, despite efforts by local governments to curb their growth amid a worsening housing crisis. The study reveals that tourist accommodation is expanding at an above-average rate in many of Spain’s top 50 destinations, which together accounted for half of all international tourist arrivals in 2024.

In contrast, the number of hotel rooms increased by just 2% between 2022 and 2024, based on data from registered tourist accommodations and listings analyzed by Exceltur. This sharp growth in short-term rentals has intensified public pressure, with residents blaming mass tourism for rising rental and property prices.

To combat the strain on housing, Spanish authorities are introducing stricter regulations to shift property use toward long-term rentals. The Bank of Spain estimates a nationwide shortfall of 450,000 homes. In response, cities like Barcelona have banned new short-term rental permits by 2028, while Madrid, Malaga, and the Canary Islands are limiting new authorizations.

Just last week, the Spanish government ordered Airbnb to remove over 65,000 listings it said were in violation of current regulations. Airbnb has stated it plans to appeal the decision. However, Exceltur’s vice president, Oscar Perelli, pointed out that enforcement remains weak, as traditional inspections have failed to keep up with the scale of listings.

Madrid saw a 49% increase in tourist rentals between 2022 and 2024, now representing 38% of the city’s 176,702 tourist beds. Malaga experienced a 36% rise, with short-term rentals now making up 56% of its visitor accommodations. Even in Barcelona, where a moratorium on new permits has been in place for years, short-term rentals have still grown by 26%.

Spain remains the world’s second most visited country after France, with 25.6 million international tourists arriving in the first four months of 2025—an increase of 7% year-on-year.

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