Else Beekman
The explosive growth of holiday homes in Spain has led to increased rental prices and problems for local residents, especially in tourist areas. Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, announced in the Congress of Deputies the development of a unique register for holiday homes.
All registered holiday homes will receive a unique registration number. Only with this number can these homes be listed on rental platforms such as Airbnb and Booking. Hereu emphasises that this tool helps municipalities and autonomous regions to regulate and track tourist rentals.
No holiday homes for non-residents
In addition to the plans for a new register for holiday homes, other measures were discussed. Podemos parliamentarian Noemí Santana called for further measures to protect the right to housing against tourist speculation, such as prohibiting the purchase of holiday homes by non-residents. She pointed out the problems that public sector workers face due to high rental prices in tourist areas. For instance, hospitality workers in the Balearic and Canary Islands often have to resort to living in campers and tents because they cannot find a regular home.
Modernisation and sustainability
Hereu confirmed his ministry’s commitment to a new tourism model focused on sustainability and social cohesion. This is supported by the Plan de Modernización y Transformación del Turismo, financed with 3.4 billion euros from the European Next Generation fund. This plan aims to transform and modernize the tourism sector in Spain to enhance competitiveness and resilience. It includes 560 sustainable projects, including 25 in the Canary Islands, and additional funding for energy efficiency and the resilience of the tourism sector.
The main objectives of the plan are:
- The transformation of the tourism model towards environmental, socio-economic, and territorial sustainability.
- The digital transformation of tourist destinations and businesses.
- Stimulating resilience through specific plans for extra-peninsular areas.
- Promoting competitiveness through the development of tourist products, energy efficiency, and the circular economy in the sector.
The plan includes an estimated total investment of €3.94 billion. The majority of which €3.4 billion comes from the European Recovery and Resilience Facility. These initiatives aim to spread tourist pressure and mitigate the negative effects of tourism.
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