Booking.com, the major online hotel booking platform, has confirmed it has removed thousands of listings in Spain following the latest efforts by the Spanish government to crack down on illegal short-term tourist rentals.
While Spain’s thriving tourism sector has played a significant role in boosting the national economy, it has also sparked growing concerns over the shortage of affordable housing – an issue the minority coalition government has made a top priority. ALSO READ: Sánchez announces new housing measures, including limiting non-residents from buying property.
‘We have deleted a very small number of adverts in Spain at the request of the consumer ministry for supplying valid licences,’ Booking.com said in a statement.
The Amsterdam-headquartered company explained that the affected listings accounted for ‘less than 2%’ of the roughly 200,000 properties it offers in Spain, emphasising that it has consistently worked with authorities to support the regulation of the short-term rental market.
According to Spain’s consumer rights ministry, Booking.com removed a total of 4,093 illegal listings, with the majority located in the Canary Islands, one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations.
In addition to this action, Spanish authorities have also demanded that Airbnb, another major platform for tourist accommodations, remove over 65,000 listings for breaching licensing requirements. The government remains engaged in an on-going legal dispute with the US-based company over the issue. ALSO READ: Spain orders Airbnb to remove over 65,000 ‘illegal’ holiday rental listings.
As the world’s second most-visited country, Spain welcomed a record 94 million international tourists in 2024. However, residents in heavily visited cities like Barcelona continue to hold short-term tourist rentals responsible for worsening the housing crisis and transforming the character of their neighbourhoods. ALSO READ: Thousands protest against over-tourism in Barcelona & Mallorca, many with water pistols.
‘We’re making progress in the fight against a speculative model that expels people from their neighbourhoods and violates the right to a home,’ said the consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy in a post on the social network Bluesky.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
ALSO READ: Draft bill submitted for 100% tax on property purchases by non-resident, non-EU nationals.
ALSO READ: Barcelona wants to revoke all city’s 10,101 tourist apartment licences by Nov 2028.
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.
