Spain’s Andalusia region is set to bring in a new Sustainable Tourism Law to crackdown on illegal tourist flats – with fines of up to a whopping 600,000 euros (£496,700)
Andalusia is clamping down on rogue holiday lets with the introduction of steep fines as part of its new crackdown measures.
Under the soon-to-be enforced Sustainable Tourism Law, which was given the nod this Tuesday (February 18), “unregulated” apartments could be slapped with penalties up to a whopping 600,000 euros (£496,700). Inspection measures will also be improved, utilising the latest technology and data.
Less egregious breaches will attract fines ranging between 2,000 euros (£1,656) and 100,000 euros (£82,780), but the most serious violations might see owners cough up to £496,700, reports The Olive Press. What’s more, local councils are poised to gain powers to green-light or block the use of private properties as tourist accommodations.
Villas and apartments that have dodged the 2012 Tourism Law so far will now be bagged in the same category as hotels and other holiday lodging options. “They have the same rights and responsibilities,” affirmed Junta spokesperson Arturo Bernal.
This landmark legislation doesn’t just stop at enforcement; it’s also crafted to balance visitor influx in hotspots while preserving harmony between tourists and residents. And in an effort to boost rural tourism, it has scrapped the population threshold of 100,000 required to designate a ‘touristic municipality’, reports the Express.
Annually, Andalusia plays host to around 12 million visitors, making the regulation of holiday accommodations all the more crucial. The new legislation introduced means the registration of guests and declaration of properties used for holiday lets will now be mandatory.
What’s more, there’ll be specific tourist areas carved out, distinct yet possibly coinciding with residential spaces. “The law hopes to honour our present and transform our future. Andalucia will be an example of how to respect local identity, protect our legacy and generate sustainable opportunities within tourism. It will also establish Andalucia as a key part of the Spanish economy and employment,” declared the Junta.
Nestled in the southern reaches of the Iberian Peninsula, Andalusia boasts some of Spain’s crowning tourist jewels, including Malaga, Seville, Granada, and Cadiz. The region saw around 13 million international faces grace its lands last year, marking a hefty 12% leap from 2023, even outstripping numbers from before the pandemic hit.
Britons, Germans, Dutch and Americans led the influx. Yet, mirroring issues faced in Spanish locales such as Barcelona and the Canary and Balearic Islands, Andalusia grapples with severe housing dilemmas — largely attributed to homeowners freely letting out their pads for short-term holidays without official permits, leaving locals in a housing bind.
In a bid to curb unlawful practices, Seville City Council had proposed in August last year to disconnect the water supply to approximately 5,000 unauthorised flats. The capital of the region boasts the highest count of tourist rentals across Europe, with a staggering 117,000 homes and 620,000 rooms.
