Málaga tourism: ‘People feel the city is collapsing’

Kike España surveys Málaga’s Plaza de la Merced, a serene spot at this late hour. Jacaranda trees cast their shade, an obelisk monument stands proudly in the center, and at the far end, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso adds historical charm. However, España’s concerns are directed at the growing number of tourists flocking to nearby cafés.

“The saturation is so intense that Málaga has reached a critical point where many feel the city is collapsing,” España observes. “It’s reminiscent of entering a theme park, where people are consuming the city without truly experiencing it.”

As an urban planner and activist with the Málaga Tenants’ Union, España has been vocal about the need for change in Málaga’s tourism management. His organization led a large protest in late June, with thousands of locals expressing their frustration over the negative impacts of tourism, such as soaring housing costs, gentrification, and overwhelming crowds.

Málaga is not alone in its struggle. Throughout the summer, protests have erupted across Spain in tourist-heavy cities like Barcelona, Alicante, and the Canary and Balearic Islands. Activists in Tenerife even staged a three-week hunger strike against new tourist developments. In Barcelona, demonstrators used water pistols on tourists and chanted slogans like “Tourism kills the city” and “Tourists go home.”

Spain’s tourism industry has been a major economic force for over fifty years, drawing northern Europeans to its coasts and islands. Today, tourism accounts for approximately 13% of Spain’s GDP. After rebounding from the Covid-19 pandemic, Spain’s tourism sector is surpassing previous records in revenue and visitor numbers. In 2023, the country welcomed 85 million international visitors, with expectations to exceed 90 million this year, making it one of the top tourist destinations globally.

José Luis Zoreda, president of Exceltur, a tourism industry association, emphasizes the sector’s revenue impact. He estimates that tourism will contribute around €200 billion in direct and indirect economic activity this year and has been a key driver of Spain’s economic recovery post-pandemic. “In 2023, tourism was responsible for 80% of Spain’s GDP growth,” Zoreda notes.

Despite these impressive figures, a growing sentiment suggests that the costs of such success are becoming untenable. Many Spaniards feel their cities are being reshaped to cater more to tourists than residents. “Tourism was once seen as a boon for the economy, but the sheer volume of international visitors has brought significant downsides,” explains Paco Femenia-Serra, a tourism and geography lecturer at Madrid’s Complutense University. “The crowds are unbearable for many locals, and tourism is crowding out other activities and businesses.”

Local businesses are being replaced by chain restaurants and stores, and prices are climbing. However, the most pressing issue is housing. In tourist hotspots like Málaga, short-term rental properties are proliferating. A recent study by El País revealed that a quarter of the apartments around Plaza de la Merced are used for short-term rentals. These properties often command higher rents than long-term rentals, pushing up housing costs across the city. Residents report difficulty finding apartments for less than €1,200-1,300 per month, while the average salary in Andalusia is only around €1,600.

“If Málaga residents can’t afford to live here, who will be left to serve the tourists?” asks Isabel Rodríguez, Spain’s housing minister. At a housing forum in Málaga in July, she emphasized the need to address this issue.

Spain’s political class is beginning to address these concerns. Catalonia and the Balearic Islands have introduced tourist taxes, charging up to €4 per person per day based on accommodation type. Palma de Mallorca is limiting the number of cruise ships allowed to dock each day. In Andalusia, local governments now have the authority to regulate short-term rentals. Barcelona plans to revoke all tourist accommodation licenses by 2028.

Femenia-Serra views curbing tourism as a complex issue but believes that restrictions are essential. “To achieve sustainable tourism, we need to discuss limits on activity, stricter regulations, and possibly restrictions on flights to certain destinations,” he suggests.

In Málaga, Kike España advocates for capping rental prices and increasing housing for locals as immediate solutions to the tourism crisis. While he and his fellow activists are not opposed to tourism itself, they seek a more balanced approach. “We are against city models that prioritize tourism at the expense of local residents,” España asserts. “We must preserve the energy, complexity, and diversity of our cities.