Israel approves plan to take Gaza city
Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved a new military plan to take control of Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in its nearly two-year con...
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.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved a new military plan to take control of Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in its nearly two-year conflict with Hamas and raising alarm among humanitarian agencies over the deepening crisis for civilians in the enclave.
Russia and Ukraine have traded fresh strikes amid mounting international pressure to end the ongoing conflict, as the Kremlin confirms that President Vladimir Putin will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has arrived in the UK for a working visit with Foreign Secretary David Lammy, as political tensions and protests loom over U.S. foreign policy.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 8th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Several countries condemn Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to take control of Gaza City. The move comes after Israel's Security Cabinet approved his plan in the early hours of Friday morning.
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