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After being inundated with concern over anti-tourist sentiment, British expat Sandra Laurie, who has lived in Spain for nine years, has debunked some of the misconceptions around the country’s string of protests
With more protests set to erupt over the coming months, a British expat living in Spain has set the record straight. Last year, fed-up locals flocked to the streets, with cries they’ve been priced out of the ‘unsustainable’ property market. In San Sebastian, residents targeted popular hotspots with the slogan ‘We are in danger; degrow tourism’ – while over in the Canary Islands, placards bluntly demanded tourists ‘go home’.
As a result, some Brits have taken the message personally, snubbing the country for their summer holiday entirely and opting to visit rival destinations like Türkiye instead. Turkey is aiming to welcome a staggering 65 million holidaymakers this year. Operations Director and founder at WL Costa Properties Sandra Laurie says she’s received an influx of concern from clients, as well as comments on her social media, around anti-tourist sentiment in the area.
The 38-year-old has been living in Spain since 2016, and calls the town of Benalmadena on the iconic Costa Del Sol home. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Sandra debunked some of ‘misconceptions floating around’ when it comes to over tourism and has issued a five-word plea to any Brits on the fence: “You should still visit Spain.”
She argued that most of the coverage around protests has actually been tied to the housing crisis in major cities, which is focused more on landlord greed as opposed to tourists. On Saturday, April 5, several Tenants’ Unions will ‘take to the streets’ to demand rent prices in popular hotspots are slashed by 50 per cent to make housing more accessible to ‘the working class’. You can see the full list of areas that will be impacted here.
“This issue does not impact tourism directly, and in fact, Spain relies heavily on visitors to support the economy,” she explained. “Local businesses, restaurants, and shops have built their success on welcoming tourists from all over the world. If you have a trip planned—don’t let the headlines deter you. The Costa del Sol and other popular destinations are buzzing with life. The beaches are packed, the pueblos are alive with energy, and both locals and tourists are soaking up the sun, relaxing, and making the most of everything Spain has to offer.”
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Of course, Sandra says being a ‘respectful’ visitor is key to being welcomed to the sunny country. Rowdy behaviour in Spain has already resulted in clampdowns across the country including Barcelona, which has recently extended its ban on pub crawls in the tourist-heavy neighbourhood of Eixample.
“Spain is a place people call home, so a little local etiquette goes a long way—avoid walking around town without a shirt on and make an effort to support local Spanish businesses whenever you can,” Sandra added. “For those considering investing in Spain and purchasing a home here or simply visiting don’t change your plans — there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. In the Costa del Sol especially, we haven’t observed any negativity toward tourists whatsoever. So, with that being said—come and enjoy.”
Have you been put off visiting Spain due to protests? Email liam.gilliver@reachplc.com for a chance to share your story
