Tourist Rentals Now Present in Two-Thirds of Spanish Municipalities
In recent years, the rise of tourist rentals has sparked significant social concern across various cities in Spain, particularly amid widespread protests against tourism overcrowding and the escalating cost of housing. Nevertheless, the trend of establishing tourist accommodations continues unabated. Recent statistics from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) indicate that these types of properties have become increasingly prevalent, now existing in two out of every three municipalities in the country.
From February 2022 to November 2024, the proportion of localities with at least one tourist rental rose from 59.9% to 66.4%. This translates to 532 towns welcoming their first tourist accommodations in this brief period. As of November, only 2,732 municipalities in Spain lacked any tourist apartments, while 5,403 locations, out of a total of 8,135, offered at least one such property.
While this number is slightly lower than the peak of 5,414 municipalities recorded in August, it still reflects a significant presence of tourist rentals across the country. The figures indicate that approximately two-thirds of all localities now feature these accommodations. Looking back, February 2022 marked the lowest expansion rate for these rentals, with 4,872 towns hosting at least one property. Nonetheless, the percentage of about 60% remained consistent with trends observed since the pandemic, when the INE began monitoring this phenomenon.
Following the economic recovery and a resurgence in tourism, the landscape began to shift. By mid-2023, more than 63% of towns reported having tourist accommodations, and by February 2024, this number exceeded 64%. The previous summer, which witnessed record-breaking tourism levels in Spain, saw the percentage of municipalities with tourist rentals surpass 66%, a figure that remained steady through November, suggesting a robust demand for these properties.
As of November, Spain boasted a total of 368,295 tourist rentals, providing nearly 1.86 million available accommodations. This marks a decline of approximately 7% from August's numbers, both in the count of properties and available spaces. However, it still represents the second highest figure since tracking began, surpassing the figures recorded during the high season of summer 2023.
Madrid (17,274 rentals) and Barcelona (9,750 rentals) lead the nation in terms of tourist accommodation offerings. In a close competition, Málaga (7,496 rentals) has recently edged ahead of Valencia (7,290 rentals), which has seen a more substantial reduction in its rental figures since August. Each of these cities has announced plans to tighten regulations surrounding tourist accommodations, with Barcelona's city council aiming to eliminate these rentals entirely by 2029.
Another notable trend in the latest data is the geographical expansion of tourist rentals. Beyond the hundreds of municipalities that have recently adopted at least one tourist rental, the official statistics also highlight a significant increase in areas with a high ratio of tourist accommodations relative to total local housing. Traditionally, this list has been dominated by coastal municipalities; however, the latest statistics reveal some unexpected entrants.
In the top positions, Yaiza in Lanzarote leads, followed closely by La Oliva in Fuerteventura. Yaiza has nearly one in four of its homes designated for tourists (24.1%), while La Oliva is not far behind at 23.7%. The top ten list also includes several smaller towns known for their tourism appeal, such as Búger and Pollença in the Balearic Islands and Sales de Llierca in Girona. New entrants to the rankings include Jalón de Cameros in La Rioja, Roncesvalles in Navarra, Monasterio in Guadalajara, Valle de Bardají in Huesca, and Villarejo in La Rioja. Each of these towns has allocated more than 15% of their housing stock to accommodate temporary visitors, a statistic that was previously associated primarily with smaller coastal villages.
