Holidaymakers in Spain have been warned to brace themselves for more overtourism protests as thousands of Spaniards took to the streets in Madrid and Barcelona demanding affordable housing. On Sunday, protesters in Madrid marched through the capital advocating for lower house rental prices, expressing their discontent with signs reading ‘Housing is a right, not a business’ and causing traffic disruptions on Gran Vía road.
The Spanish government estimated that around 12,000 individuals participated in the protest against short-term rentals like Airbnb and Booking.com. The tenants union Sindicato de Inquilinas led the demonstration, calling for the resignation of the Minister of Housing, Isabel Rodriguez, citing her direct responsibility in the Housing Act’s failure and negligence in managing renters’ concerns.
According to the Trade Union Confederation of Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), over half of a worker’s salary in Spanish cities is allocated towards housing. The CCOO suggests that policies redirecting vacant and tourist housing into rental properties could potentially increase rental availability by 66% in provincial capitals and cities with populations exceeding 50,000 residents.
In Barcelona, thousands of protesters also voiced their dissatisfaction by rallying against the hosting of the America’s Cup regatta, emphasizing ‘Barcelona is not for sale’ under the banner ‘Never again’. The No Copa America group highlighted that the race led to numerous flats in coastal areas being earmarked for seasonal rentals at exorbitant prices before the march on October 13.
Barcelona City Hall declared in June that it would not extend any tourist apartment licenses post their expiry in November 2028. Mayor Jaume Collboni articulated that this decision aims to curb escalating housing expenses and enhance the city’s liveability for its inhabitants.
The escalating protests against overtourism follow warnings issued to travellers visiting the Canary Islands for half-term holidays to expect anti-tourism demonstrations in prominent tourist spots. In response to local apprehensions regarding overtourism consequences, extensive protests are reportedly set to take place across the Spanish islands concurrently with World Tourism Day on October 20.
Organisers of these protests assert that their objective is to address the prevalent economic model in the region that prioritises tourism over the quality of life for residents and the environment. Stay tuned for more travel updates by tuning in to Simon Calder’s podcast.