UK tourists 'put off' going to Spain over new 'ban' which will 'last for months'

James Rodger

24 June 2024 at 2:46 am·2-min read

Madrid is fighting overtourism with key ban lasting until 2025. Madrid has suspended granting new licences to let accommodations to tourists until 2025 in a blow to British holidaymakers, tourists and people flying out to the European Union holiday hotspot.

The proportion of holiday rentals across Spain has gradually caught up with the hotel industry over the last few years. There are around 1.9 million hotel beds across the country, according to Spanish news outlet SUR, but that’s now closely followed by the 1.75 million beds from the 351,000 holiday rentals.

Madrid has around 13,500 holiday rentals but the city council’s website published data showing only about 1,000 of these are legal. As a result, the city has just announced that it will pause granting new licences for tourists flats to try and ease the pressure.

The news was announced at a press conference led by José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the mayor of Madrid, following a government meeting. In the press briefing, Martínez-Almeida said that the suspension would take place “with immediate effect”, while the city works on the approval of a modification to the General Plan of Urban Development of Madrid, which is being led by Borja Carabante, Madrid City Council’s delegate for Urban Planning, Environment and Mobility.

The goal of the General Plan is to “confront” issues around housing in Madrid, while at the same time “balancing the accommodation market in the city” to avoid “residential desertification”. Responding to the ban, Brit holidaymakers have spoken out.

"What would put me off going to Spain is 1) the crowds and 2) The attitude towards tourists. What are they going to live off without Northern European tourists," one Brit fumed on social media. Madrid is a go-to for Brit holidaymakers up and down the country, as well as other places like the Canaries.

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