British tourists have been warned to check their accommodation in Valencia, after city authorities moved to ban illegal holiday apartments.
Spain has been gripped by protests against mass tourism over the last months. Huge crowds turned out on a march in Tenerife on April 20, as local residents took to the street to vent their anger.
One of the chief complaints of demonstrators is the proliferation of holiday apartments – which is a huge problem in Spain’s third largest city.
Locals complain they are being priced out of the property markets, as investors snap up flats to rent to tourists. The demonstrations and anger of local communities has shocked the Spanish political establishment.
Municipal authorities are rushing to introduce new legislation to curb the explosive growth in holiday rentals, as they attempt to placate public fury.
Valencia is the latest city to introduce stricter controls and regulations, after a recent meeting between councillors and the Valencia Residents Federation.
The city’s Urban Planning councillor, Juan Giner, said on Tuesday they had authorised 160 apartment closures.
“The Valencia Policia Local is not handing out fines, but 160 orders for immediate closures,” he said.
He added that since the Partido Popular took over running the council in June last year, 154 fines had been issued for illegal tourist apartments.
Valencia attracts a large volume of holiday makers. Some ten million tourists visited the city in 2023.
They spent around €12.6 billion (£10.8bn) in 2023, according to data provided by local authorities in February.
Brits made up 28.4 percent of foreign visitors – making them the largest contingent of tourists from any one country.
Councillor Giner said the authorities would continue to amend the rules and regulations to curb the explosion in holiday apartments.
