Lorraine Williamson
The seaside town of O Grove, in Galicia’s Pontevedra province, is on the front line of Spain’s camper van boom. Once a trickle of vehicles along the Rías Baixas coast, the surge since the pandemic has now become what the mayor bluntly calls an “invasion.”
Local authorities warn that the uncontrolled influx risks pushing fragile services and natural spaces to breaking point.
Beaches under pressure
On peak summer days, more than 300 camper vans cluster around O Grove’s coastline, particularly near the beaches of A Toxa and San Vicente do Mar. Moreover, many remain parked for days in areas where wild camping is banned. Residents complain of blocked beach access, overflowing bins and wastewater discharged into natural areas. Furthermore, reports even cite forced entry into public toilet facilities to obtain drinking water.
Mayor José Cacabelos brands the practice an “ecological assault,” pointing to overstretched sewage networks, water supply, and cleaning services. The town hall says it is impossible to maintain balance with the current levels of pressure.
Plans for a ban by 2026
The municipality is drafting a new ordinance to prohibit camper vans from parking outside designated campsites or authorised areas. Cacabelos hopes to introduce the regulation by summer 2026. Until then, the council concedes that the problems will persist through another two holiday seasons.
This is not the first attempt to address the issue. As early as 2016, proposals were made for designated camper zones with proper facilities. Yet the plan stalled, and today the town admits it does not have the land or capacity to house the growing camper tourism market. Officials expect private ventures to step in, while the municipality pushes forward with restrictions.
Campers demand alternatives
The Galician Camper Association (AGA) accepts that O Grove is overcrowded but argues that a blanket ban is impractical. They insist that most van travellers respect the rules and take care of the environment. The real problem, they say, lies with a minority driving converted vans without sanitation.
AGA proposes regular inspections and fines targeted at rule-breakers rather than penalising the whole community. They also call for new facilities to be built to meet rising demand. Without investment, they argue, responsible camper tourism will be squeezed out by the lack of legal options.
A wider Spanish problem
O Grove is not alone. Across Spain’s coastal hotspots—from Alicante to Elche and along the Costa del Sol—towns are grappling with the same question: how to balance tourism revenues with community and environmental wellbeing. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for camper travel has soared, leaving municipalities struggling to match the pace with suitable infrastructure.
Some regions have already tightened rules, while others rely on patchwork enforcement. The pattern is clear: as camper van tourism continues to rise, conflict with local communities is becoming more common.
Call for higher-level support
Mayor Cacabelos has gone further, demanding €20 million in long-term investment to modernise O Grove’s infrastructure. He says the municipality cannot finance the upgrades alone and is appealing for funds from the Galician government and EU sources. Extra capacity is needed across water supply, waste management, cleaning services and policing.
Without this support, he warns, the seaside town risks becoming a victim of its own popularity.
Source: El Español