Warning to Brits heading to Spanish holiday hotspot after five-year ban

Holidaying Brits flock out to Malaga every year for some summer sun but there are warnings about a potential new ban in the Spanish holiday hotspot. Officials have launched a project to assess noise levels across the centre and the Teatinos neighbourhood.

It follows a five-year ban on new bars and restaurants imposed in 2019 which could now be extended or brought to an end. Both areas were designated Acoustically Saturated Zones (SAZ) in 2019, blocking the opening of new bars and restaurants in these busy areas favoured by tourists, the Express reports.

Restaurant owners have been lobbying for the lifting of these restrictions, arguing they have stunted business growth in two of Malaga's liveliest areas. But the levels of tourism have also brought challenges.

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In the summer, locals staged anti-tourism protests and an extended ban could help to control visitor numbers. A six-month study, set to commence after December 4, will determine whether noise levels have improved since the restrictions were put in place back in 2019.

The findings will directly affect whether the council maintains or alters the current ban heading towards summer 2025. An external firm will be hired to carry out noise monitoring tests across the impacted streets, as businesses and locals await the results.

The technical study will employ at least two acoustic specialists to install five permanent noise monitoring units throughout the zones, along with various other measuring equipment including five-metre-high tripods and a weather station. The results of this assessment, which could significantly influence Malaga's future as a tourist hotspot, are anticipated by mid-2025.

It's one of a number of areas in Spain which have attracted anti-tourism protests, including other popular holiday spots like Majorca.