A city in Spain beloved by British tourists is set to introduce a dramatic new measure to crack down on overcrowding in the country’s latest demonstration against overtourism.
Malaga has decided to ban the registration of new holiday homes in areas that are already saturated with Airbnb-style properties.
This will affect 43 areas in the city that already have more than 8% of residential properties that are being used as tourist accommodation.
The ban is expected to last for up to five years and will be instated in early November on a precautionary basis before it is fully legally approved, according to The Olive Press.
This bold move will make changes to the city’s General Urban Development Plan (PGOU) which regulates land use and urban planning.
Carmen Casero, a town planning councillor, said the regional government of Adalusia, known as the Junta de Andalucía, will be responsible for writing the ban into law.
Properties that were registered after February 2024 and do not have a separate entrance away from other properties will also not be allowed to function as holiday homes.
The Junta has reportedly already started notifying property owners of the changes and over 1,500 cases have been sent to the regional government for review.
The new ban comes after a study found holiday flats make up 75% of Malaga’s accommodation – 65% of which are located in the city centre which already has almost 13,000.
Malaga has now been divided up into three zones for implementing new holiday rental regulations and other neighbourhoods outside of the 43 saturated areas will also face restrictions if holiday homes do not have independent access.
There are 32 areas where a minimum of 4.53% properties are holiday rentals, and 296 below that percentage.
Malaga is the latest Spanish city to implement rules to cut down on tourism as locals feel their home towns are becoming overcrowded and they struggle to afford homes.