In the Canary Islands, thousands of protesters rallied against overtourism as the Spanish government demanded Airbnb remove around 66,000 properties from its platform for violating tourist accommodation regulations. This follows a court ruling mandating Airbnb to withdraw nearly 5,000 specific listings across regions like Madrid, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands that lacked proper licensing.
Minister Pablo Bustinduy emphasized that prioritizing housing rights over economic interests is crucial, as rising rental costs have become a major concern for residents. Spain, which attracts 94 million tourists a year, is facing growing scrutiny regarding the impact of tourist apartments on local housing.
The government aims to enforce stricter regulations, with cities like Barcelona planning to eliminate thousands of tourist rentals by 2028. In contrast, Airbnb has challenged the court’s ruling, claiming no violations were proven and citing a 2022 Supreme Court decision that deemed them a neutral intermediary.
This summer’s protests against overtourism are anticipated to intensify, with similar demonstrations planned in Mallorca under the “Més Vida” campaign.
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