Latest news with #SpanishTouristOffice
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Airbnb told to pull 65,000 holiday listings in Spain tourism crackdown
The Government has ordered Airbnb to pull the listing in a bid to reduce the impact of tourism Spain's government has ordered Airbnb to block more than 65,000 holiday listings on its platform over rule violations. The Spanish consumer rights ministry said that many of the 65,935 Airbnb listings it had ordered to be withdrawn did not include their licence number or specify whether the owner was an individual or a company. Others listed numbers did not match official records. Spain is grappling with a housing affordability crisis that has spurred government action against short-term rental companies. In recent months, tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets in protest against rising housing and rental costs, which many say have been driven up by holiday rentals on platforms like Airbnb that have proliferated in cities like Madrid and Barcelona and many other popular tourist destinations. Last year, Barcelona announced a plan to close down all of the 10,000 apartments licensed in the city as short-term rentals by 2028 to safeguard the housing supply for full-time residents. Spain's government said the first round of rentals affected by the order are located across the country, including in the capital Madrid, in Andalusia and also in Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona. The move comes as Steve Heapy, chief executive of airline and tour operator Jet2, said there is a 'perception' among some people that overseas visitors are not welcome in Spain. Spanish residents in popular destinations have organised a number of demonstrations against tourism in recent years, with banners featuring messages such as 'tourists go home'. The impact of tourism on rental rates is a common theme at the protests. Speaking at an event at the Spanish embassy in London, Mr Heapy said: 'We've had people ringing the call centre and going into travel agents, asking questions like 'is Spain safe', 'are we still welcome in the resort'.' He went on: 'It is becoming a big issue unfortunately, and perception becomes truth.' Mr Heapy said 'unlicensed tourism' – such as people staying in private accommodation listed on Airbnb – is 'causing a huge problem' and 'needs to be controlled'. Issues such as uncertainty over visitor numbers, unpaid tourist taxes and properties that 'could be death traps' are among the issues, he said. 'Unfortunately there's been a massive explosion in unlicensed tourism properties.' He went on: 'Airbnb can be controlled. They don't rule the world. They are an online platform that we can control and put legislation in place.' Mr Heapy said if he was a politician he would introduce fines of 'a quarter of a million euros' for Airbnb hosts found not to have the required licences or tax records. Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, insisted it is 'important to distinguish between specific local tensions and the broader national picture'. He went on: 'The vast majority of Spain remains enthusiastic in welcoming tourists. Where protests have occurred – in cities such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Santa Cruz – concerns stem from broader societal issues: housing pressures, rising costs of living, and environmental strain in high-density areas.' He added: 'Spain is taking concrete steps to address these issues – through legislation on short-term rentals, tourism taxes in certain regions, and more comprehensive destination management.' Spain is the most popular overseas destination for people in the UK, with more than 18 million visits last year. Spain's Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sanchez Grau said: 'We are proud and grateful that Spain remains the number one holiday destination for UK visitors. 'It is our priority to protect and nurture this relationship for the future.'
North Wales Live
09-05-2025
- North Wales Live
UK tourists reconsider holidays in Spain as anti-tourism protests escalate
UK holidaymakers are being advised to tread carefully as a rash of anti-tourism demonstrations breaks out across Spain, with the nation holding the title as Europe's favoured destination for British tourists. Anti-tourism parades have cast a shadow over sun-soaked hotspots such as Majorca, Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Barcelona, where protestors have unfurled stark banners proclaiming "tourists go home", reports the Examiner. Steve Heapy, boss of airline giant Jet2, has observed a surge in worried customer calls, saying: "We've had people ringing the call centre and going into travel agents, asking questions like 'is Spain safe', 'are we still welcome in the resort'." He added: "It is becoming a big issue unfortunately, and perception becomes truth." However, Manuel Butler, chief of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, presents an opposing view. He says: "It is important to distinguish between specific local tensions and the broader national picture," adding: "The vast majority of Spain remains enthusiastic in welcoming tourists." Mr Butler chalks up the discontent to "broader societal issues" such as housing shortages, rising living expenses, and tourism's environmental toll on congested locales. Furthermore, he revealed plans to bolster Spain's welcoming approach to tourists through legislative measures on short-term rentals, implementing tourism taxes in specific regions, and enhancing destination management. Additionally, Rosario Sanchez Grau, Spain's Secretary of State for Tourism, stepped forward to express her gratitude, stating: "We are proud and grateful that Spain remains the number one holiday destination for UK visitors. It is our priority to protect and nurture this relationship for the future." However, some Brits are not convinced. One said: "Why are people still going to Spain? It had it's day years ago." A second individual agreed, stating: "I think you are right. We were just deliberating about booking a repeat visit to our favourite Spanish haunt - no longer - we shall be looking elsewhere." An angry Brit said: "They don't deserve our business. They really are shooting themselves in the foot and risking damaging a major part of their economy. Foolish, I say." Another person added: "Leave them with thousands of unfilled hotels and hotels partially built." They also highlighted the potential repercussions, including "Not to mention loss in Spanish jobs, hotels, catering, shops etc..I will not be back to Spain now. Bring our expats home to Britain."
Western Telegraph
07-05-2025
- Western Telegraph
Anti-tourism protests are ‘a big issue' for UK holidaymakers, travel boss warns
Steve Heapy, chief executive of airline and tour operator Jet2, said there is a 'perception' among some people that overseas visitors are not welcome in the country. Spanish residents in popular destinations have organised a number of demonstrations against tourism in recent years, with banners featuring messages such as 'tourists go home'. We've had people ringing the call centre and going into travel agents, asking questions like 'is Spain safe', 'are we still welcome in the resort' Steve Heapy, Jet2 The impact of tourism on rental rates is a common theme at the protests. Speaking at an event at the Spanish embassy in London, Mr Heapy said: 'We've had people ringing the call centre and going into travel agents, asking questions like 'is Spain safe', 'are we still welcome in the resort'.' He went on: 'It is becoming a big issue unfortunately, and perception becomes truth.' Mr Heapy said 'unlicensed tourism' – such as people staying in private accommodation listed on Airbnb – is 'causing a huge problem' and 'needs to be controlled'. Issues such as uncertainty over visitor numbers, unpaid tourist taxes and properties that 'could be death traps' are among the issues, he said. 'Unfortunately there's been a massive explosion in unlicensed tourism properties.' He went on: 'Airbnb can be controlled. They don't rule the world. 'They are an online platform that we can control and put legislation in place.' We are proud and grateful that Spain remains the number one holiday destination for UK visitors. It is our priority to protect and nurture this relationship for the future Spain's Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sanchez Grau Mr Heapy said if he was a politician he would introduce fines of 'a quarter of a million euros' for Airbnb hosts found not to have the required licences or tax records. Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, insisted it is 'important to distinguish between specific local tensions and the broader national picture'. He went on: 'The vast majority of Spain remains enthusiastic in welcoming tourists. 'Where protests have occurred – in cities such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Santa Cruz – concerns stem from broader societal issues: housing pressures, rising costs of living, and environmental strain in high-density areas.' He added: 'Spain is taking concrete steps to address these issues – through legislation on short-term rentals, tourism taxes in certain regions, and more comprehensive destination management.' Spain is the most popular overseas destination for people in the UK, with more than 18 million visits last year. Spain's Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sanchez Grau said: 'We are proud and grateful that Spain remains the number one holiday destination for UK visitors. 'It is our priority to protect and nurture this relationship for the future.'
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Two major Spanish destinations confirm plan to cap tourist numbers
The holiday hotspots have stated that their '"residents are the priority nowadays", and have hinted at capping tourist numbers. Palma de Majorca and Barcelona, two tourist hotspots in Spain, have confirmed their plans to cap visitor numbers due to overtourism and its impact on residents. Addressing residents' concerns at the Spain Talks conference on sustainability that was organised by the Spanish Tourist Office in London, the heads of tourism of Barcelona and Palma de Majorca said: 'Let's not be afraid to discuss limits.' The managing director of Palma de Majorca Tourism, Pedro Homar, said: 'Residents are our priority nowadays. We slashed marketing budgets in the last three to four years.' Addressing tour operators, he said: 'I'm sorry for that. Limits are good. Let's not be afraid to discuss limits.' Warning over Spain holiday rule that could see you banned from entering for three years Mateu Hernandez, the Barcelona Tourism director general agreed and said: 'We're 100% the same in Barcelona. The city began to do this – no more hotels, no more tourism flats, no more cruises, no more tour groups.' Hernandez went on to note that there has been no increase in tourist numbers in 2024 — which stand at 15 million, the same as 2023 — and said: 'This is not failure. This is what we're looking for, Travel Weekly reports. We don't want visitors to feel crowded.' Hernandez further added: 'Our challenge is to answer the question – can tourism save us from tourism? This is the key question.' He insisted that the residents of Barcelona 'want this balance'. Calling the protests against tourism 'sad', Hernandez insisted: 'It's a minority who don't want tourism. We want to prioritise who is sleeping on beds [in the city]. Our key priorities are conferences and events – we're investing €400 million in infrastructure for conferences – and culture.' Homar said during the conference: 'We have a cap of 12,000 beds in the city – 95% in four and five-star hotels. We hardly have two and three-star hotels. We are positioning ourselves as more upscale and cosmopolitan. We limit daily cruises. We want to manage the destination. We're not in the business of marketing the destination.' Jaime Martinez, the Mayor of Palma de Majorca, said: 'We have to control the number of visitors. We want Palma to be a reference point in the travel market.' Ian Corbett, Tui's head of sustainability, said: 'Tui wants to be part of the solution. Destinations have their limits and it's for destinations to decide what tourism they want and how much. It's important we put as little additional strain on destinations as we can. It's about well-planned, well-executed, controlled tourism, not about exclusion.' Mass protests against overtourism are all set to take place across popular holiday destinations in Europe this summer, with several demonstrations already held over the last couple of months, especially in Spain. Recently, tourists aboard a sight-seeing bus in Barcelona were blocked and squirted with water by protesters. A protest was launched in the Northern Spanish city on Sunday by the organizers of many of the anti-tourism protests held in Majorca in 2024. The Catalan Police were called to intervene, when several of the campaigners blocked a bus that was ferrying tourists, close to the famous Sagrada Familia. Brit holidaymakers have also been given a heads-up regarding their upcoming summer escapes, with local residents in top European destinations like Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal not dismissing the idea of targeting airport buildings to dissuade tourists. The locals argue that unchecked tourism has driven up rental prices and stripped away affordable housing availability as properties are gobbled up for tourist accommodations and lands are bought out for resort development. This warning emerges just as loads of Brits line up their plans for some sun-soaked relaxation. At a demonstration in Barcelona, protestor Elena Boschi told the Mirror: "We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation – without fear there is no change." Significant disruptions can also be expected over the summer; a leader of the Spanish protests informed The Mirror that militant groups might obstruct not just airports but beaches and other beloved tourist draws too, as anti-tourist fury intensifies in Spain. A protest frontman, referred to here as Lucas due to his condition of anonymity, communicated his caution that demonstrators could escalate their tactics if they continue to be sidelined. He said: "The general mood is one of growing frustration, indignation, and despair. People feel that they are being expelled from their own land and that their fundamental rights are not being protected. People have had enough. "There is a widespread feeling that the situation has reached a breaking point and that it is necessary to act urgently and decisively to reverse it. The patience of the citizenry is running out. We are not going to stand idly by while we see our homes and our lives threatened by speculation and an uncontrolled tourism model."
Hi Dubai
22-04-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Europe Unites in Dubai: Travel Giants Join Forces for Discover Europe Travel Summit Meets Marhaba 2025
Austria Tourism, Atout France Middle East, the German National Tourist Office GCC (GNTO), and the Spanish Tourist Office are collaborating for the first time to launch Discover Europe Travel Summit meets Marhaba 2025 in Dubai, taking place on 25–26 April. This landmark event will bring together 130 tourism suppliers from Austria, France, Germany, and Spain, offering GCC, Levant, and Indian travel professionals access to 5,720 pre-scheduled meetings across two days. The summit serves as a key networking platform for destination marketing organisations, DMCs, hospitality providers, and transport specialists to forge long-term partnerships with 150 qualified buyers. Each participating country brings unique appeal for GCC travellers. Austria continues to attract visitors with its alpine landscapes and cultural cities. Michael Tauschmann of Austria Tourism said the summit is ideal for promoting authentic experiences in lesser-known regions. France remains a favourite for its landmarks, shopping, and luxury experiences. Atout France Middle East's Maulin Dominique sees the summit as a chance to strengthen ties and showcase high-end offerings. Germany is known for its heritage, green spaces, and efficient infrastructure. Yamina Sofo of GNTO GCC highlighted the opportunity to promote wellness and family-oriented travel. Spain's cultural vibrancy and geographic diversity continue to resonate with the region. Carlos Ruiz González of the Spanish Tourist Office noted the summit's role in deepening Spain's presence in this strategic market. By joining forces, the four tourism boards underscore Europe's shared vision of delivering world-class, year-round travel experiences—making this summit a powerful driver for regional travel collaboration and growth. News Source: Emirates News Agency
