Spain has taken a tough decision on housing for tourists: what to expect

The Spanish government has begun an active fight against the rental of housing for tourists through popular platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com. Airbnb has been forced to block more than 65,000 listings under pressure from Spanish authorities, who consider them illegal. This decision has been supported by a Madrid court, Reuters reports.The ministry has demanded the suspension of listings from Airbnb that concern almost all regions of Spain, from Andalusia to the Basque Country. Another 55,000 listings have been blocked due to their illegality.Many Spaniards believe that such rental housing leads to an increase in tourist flow and rising housing prices. The ministry emphasized that these measures are intended to ensure compliance with the law and the rights of citizens to adequate housing, even if it may harm the incomes of large corporations.Violations related to the rental of housing for tourists pose a serious threat to consumer rights and may undermine trust in the tourism market, warns the ministry. False information in listings and the absence of necessary licenses can lead to problems for both tourists and property owners.