Thousands of people protested mass tourism in the Spanish cities of Malaga and Cadiz. Complaining about high rents, noise, and pollution, they demanded a ban on tourist rentals with the slogan "A tourist reduces a neighbor".
Malaga has joined the list of cities in Spain protesting against mass tourism and high rents. In the city located in the Andalusia region in the south of the country, more than 5,000 demonstrators gathered under the slogan "Malaga to live, not to survive." Protesters carried signs reading "Salary 1300, rent 1100 euros, how can I live?" and "Ban tourist rentals." A 26-year-old protester told the French News Agency (AFP) that "the city has turned into an amusement park," making it difficult for locals to find apartments to live in.
In another Andalusian city, Cadiz, hundreds of people gathered under the slogan "A tourist reduces a neighbor" and held up a banner reading "Enough with selling the city." The port of Cadiz is a frequent stop for many cruise ships.
In Spain, protests against mass tourism are also being held in Mallorca, Ibiza, the Canary Islands, and the city of Barcelona. Spaniards claim that many homes are being rented to tourists, causing rents to rise and making city centers unlivable due to noise and pollution.
SPAIN HOSTED 85 MILLION TOURISTS
According to the Spanish statistical office INE, approximately 85 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2023. The number of tourists increased by about 19% compared to the previous year. Thanks to the tourism boom, the growth of the Spanish economy increased by 2.5% last year, surpassing all international expectations. However, dissatisfaction with the negative effects of mass tourism among the public is steadily growing.