Stricter entry and tourist rules: Spain awaits Spain in 2025!

Stricter entry and tourist rules: Spain awaits Spain in 2025!

Barcelona, Spanien - Spain recorded a new record in the tourism sector with 94 million tourists in 2024, which makes the country one of the largest travel destinations worldwide. Despite the gratifying figures, there are increasing complaints from locals about overcrowding, water consumption and high accommodation prices. These challenges lead to a rethink in the government. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has already submitted a comprehensive 12-point plan to regulate the housing market in order to meet the claims for stricter rules. In particular, this plan includes measures against the exploitation of living space for short -term tourist rental contracts that contribute to the increase in rental prices for locals.

While the tourist attractiveness of Spain is unbroken, protests against mass tourism increase the demands for reviews of tourism practices. In order to reduce the negative effects of tourism on the local population as well as the cultural heritage and the natural resources, the government and regional authorities take measures. Tourists from third countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and the USA have to meet more comprehensive requirements in order to be able to enter Spain, while visitors from the EU only need a passport or identity card. In addition, tourists coming from third countries are obliged to submit travel insurance and evidence of financial resources, hotel reservations and return flight tickets.The Portugal Newsreports that some cities take new regulatory measures to restructure tourism.

Regulations in the accommodation market

A central concern of the 12-point plan is to regulate short-term rental objects, which are often rented to tourists. In Málaga, for example, a new ban on rental objects has been in place since January 2024 if their number is more than 8% of the housing stock in 43 districts. The city is already facing protests, while Barcelona is planning to withdraw the licensing for all 10,000 short-term rental apartments in order to secure the availability of apartments for long-term residents. This means that existing licenses will no longer be renewed after 2028.

Measures are also taken in the Balearic Islands and in other tourist regions. Catalonia has already introduced an eco -tax, while in Barcelona the tax rate for luxury hotels was increased to 7 euros per night. The total tax for tourists in luxury accommodation can therefore be up to 15 euros per night. In addition, price increases in the high season can be expected from 4 to 6 euros. Similar regulations are considered in the Canary Islands.

Rules of conduct for tourists

Outside the accommodation regulations, there are also new behavioral regulations. Pub tours in the Eixample district of Barcelona are prohibited from June 2025, while a similar ban in the old town applies until at least 2028. The consumption of alcohol in public spaces in tourist areas in the Balearic Islands is also limited, with a ban on sales between 9:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. Finnats of up to 3,000 euros are provided for non -stops of these regulations.

Special features such as the driving ban in the old town of Sóller in Mallorca or the ban on tents on beaches in Torrox show a clear direction towards more sustainable tourism. More than 100 beaches in Spain, including 28 on the Balearic Islands, have already ordered smoking bans. In Málaga, penalties can be imposed up to 750 euros for urinating the sea or on the beach.

The increasing regulation of tourism in Spain not only reflects the increased number of visitors, but also the vigilance towards the interests of the local population. It remains to be seen how the new regulations will affect the country's tourist landscape and whether they lead to a harmonization between tourism and the needs of the locals in the long term.

Citizens are encouraged to find out about local regulations in their accommodations or travel agencies in order to avoid unexpected problems during their stay.ZDFIt indicates that these measures could be a necessary step to counter the challenges of increasing tourism.