A POPULAR holiday hotspot is turning its back on tourists as fury boils over rising rents, unaffordable homes, and “low-quality” visitors.
Malaga is scrapping plans to build 1,300 tourist homes and considering a total ban on land sales to foreigners, in what could become a watershed moment for Spain’s sun-soaked coastlines.
Mayor Francisco de la Torre said the city council is reviewing sweeping new restrictions under the General Urban Planning Document (PGOU), which could see non-Spaniards completely barred from buying land in the Costa del Sol capital.
He admitted the drastic rethink includes “a global moratorium” on tourist developments.
De la Torre added: “We want to determine how tourism can be made compatible with everyday city life.”
The shock move comes as thousands of anti-tourist protestors flooded 40 Spanish cities this weekend, urging activists to superglue locks on holiday rentals and block tourists from beaches.
Graffiti, fake beach closure signs, and even arson attacks on rental cars have rocked the southern coast, with campaigners declaring war on tourism.
De la Torre confirmed that Malaga has already prohibited new holiday apartments in 43 neighbourhoods, including Centro, La Merced, and Malagueta.
A specialist company has been hired to track “illegal holiday homes” and steer the crackdown.
“We are a municipality clearly committed to this,” he said.
The backlash isn’t new — but it is escalating.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Menorca town dubbed ‘Spain’s Mykonos’ holds referendum on BANNING tourists (1)” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6360507337112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Brits are particularly vulnerable post-Brexit, losing their EU privileges while Dutch, German, and French buyers still benefit from freedom of movement and ownership rules.
Activists accuse politicians of letting tourism spiral out of control and pricing out locals.
“We feel defenceless because of tourism,” said Lucia Vazquez, 23, at a protest in Seville.
“They should start to control it more.”
A spokesman for the group Malaga Is For Living raged: “Everything over the last few decades has been done to turn the centre of Malaga into a tourist amusement park that only benefits a few.”
Another protestor, Lina Castillo, a tourist guide, said: “I can’t find a flat anywhere on the coast for less than €900 (£760) and we’re talking 50 square metres.”
Some residents are now actively sabotaging the industry.
A message circulating online urged: “Please vandalise all the locks you see. Go super glue mad.”
The growing hostility follows a string of protests last summer that saw tourists sprayed with water pistols in Barcelona and angry mobs confronting sunseekers on Majorcan beaches.
Campaigners are demanding tougher controls on Airbnbs, higher flight prices, caps on tourist numbers, and taxes on empty homes.
An open letter urged Brits to stay away, reading: “ENOUGH! STAY HOME! We do not need more tourists… DO NOT COME.”
Joana Maria Estrany Vallespir from SOS Residents, who co-wrote the letter, warned: “The local population is angry, and we are no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed, and many residents are having to emigrate.”
Spain’s tourism industry — worth billions — has long been the lifeline of coastal towns.
But with the summer season fast approaching, the clash between locals and holidaymakers is only set to intensify.