Malaga joins other European cities in limiting tourist accommodation licences to curb rising rents and resident displacement.
The Spanish city of Malaga is taking a stand against the proliferation of tourist accommodation, joining a growing trend in Europe. The city council has implemented new regulations that restrict new tourist accommodation licenses to properties with a separate entrance.
This move reflects the concerns of Malaga residents who have seen a dramatic rise in rental and property prices due to the surge in tourist rentals, particularly through platforms like AirBnB. Malaga currently boasts the highest percentage of tourist flats among major Spanish cities, with a staggering 2.7% of its properties dedicated to tourist use. This figure dwarfs the national average of 1.33%. This trend has resulted in a 14-fold increase in tourist housing within Malaga in recent years.
The Malaga Tenants' Union has been vocal about the negative impact of this boom, highlighting the "effective expulsion" of residents from certain neighborhoods due to limited housing availability and skyrocketing rents. By limiting new tourist accommodation licenses, Malaga hopes to mitigate these issues and ensure a better balance between tourism benefits and resident needs.
Additional Information:
This trend of regulating tourist accommodation is not unique to Malaga. Several other Spanish cities, including Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia, have implemented similar or even stricter measures.
The issue of rising housing costs due to tourist rentals is a growing concern across Europe, prompting various cities to explore regulatory solutions.
Balancing tourism's economic advantages with the needs of local residents remains a key challenge for many popular tourist destinations.
Source: Euronews
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