Spain makes Booking.com scrap 4,000 tourist rental ads
Booking.com on Friday said it had taken down thousands of advertisements in Spain in the leftist government's latest crackdown on illegal short-term tourist rentals
Spain has intensified its crackdown on illegal short-term tourist rentals, prompting Booking.com to remove over 4,000 listings across the country. As the tourism boom drives economic growth, it is also fueling a housing affordability crisis—especially in hotspots like the Canary Islands and Barcelona. The government, aiming to curb speculation and protect residents' right to housing, has targeted major platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb in its regulatory efforts.
Key takeaways
- Booking.com removed 4,093 ads in Spain at the request of the consumer rights ministry for failing to meet licensing requirements.
- The removed listings represent less than 2% of the platform’s 200,000 properties in Spain.
- Most of the illegal listings were located in the Canary Islands, a major tourist destination.
- Spain is also pressuring Airbnb, demanding the removal of over 65,000 unlicensed ads and engaging in legal action.
- The crackdown is part of a broader government effort to address housing shortages and community disruption caused by short-term rentals.
- 94 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2024, amplifying the pressure on housing in popular areas.
- Consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy framed the action as fighting a "speculative model" that harms local communities.
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