Spanish holiday hotspot overwhelmed by tourist rentals as furious locals fight back | World | News

Spanish locals have issued a rallying cry as “historic” shops and buildings are closing up to make space for more holiday rentals.

Residents of Costa del Sol, particularly Malaga, have vented their frustration after nearly 40 shops, bars or other commercial sites were granted permission to be turned into holiday rentals in the span of a year.

It comes amid a housing crisis for young Spaniards, with many millions unable to afford to live in larger cities – let alone purchase property there.

A picture of a once popular noodles bar turned tourist rental went viral after Malagueño Fran Campos shared it with the caption: “Malaga’s new reality.” He went on to share more pictures detailing how the city had changed over time.

Mr Campos argued that “iconic” buildings were being wiped from existence, to be replaced with more spaces for tourists.

He said under one picture: “These were the headquarters of the Neighborhood Association, then an embroidery workshop and now some tourist apartments.”

A legendary dance clothing store, named Lola Denis, also faced the chopping block after 36 years in business, reported Olive Press. The building on Calle Mendez Nuñez is being converted into a hotel.

One X user commented: “I’m from Malaga and I never visit the centre when I see my family because I do not recognise the place where I grew up, such a shame.”

While another local said: “My whole neighbourhood is the same, they grow like mushrooms… it’s destroying the neighbourhood.”

“They are turning our cities into theme parks for tourists”, said a third. 

It comes after the city recorded its best year on record in 2023.

Around 14 million tourists visited the Costa del Sol last year, records show.

This was 12 percent more than in 2022 and a million more tourists than 2019 – which had previously been the province’s best year for tourism.

According to the figures revealed by Malaga’s provincial authority head and head of Turismo Costa del Sol, Francisco Salado, international tourists played a big role with foreign visitors staying in hotels and tourist flats in the province increasing by 9.9 percent compared to 2022.