In a significant move to address Spain’s housing crisis and growing public discontent over mass tourism, the Spanish government has ordered Airbnb to remove nearly 66,000 short-term rental listings from its platform. The Consumer Rights Ministry cited violations such as missing license numbers and misrepresented ownership details as reasons for the crackdown. This action is part of broader efforts to regulate the short-term rental market, which many blame for inflating housing costs and reducing availability for local residents.

Cities like Barcelona have taken additional measures, with plans to eliminate all 10,000 licensed short-term rental apartments by 2028 to protect long-term housing availability. Similarly, regions such as the Balearic and Canary Islands are discontinuing the use of social media influencers to promote tourism, aiming to mitigate the environmental and infrastructural strain caused by overtourism.

Airbnb has contested the government’s directive, arguing that the ministry lacks the authority and employed an indiscriminate method to flag listings. The company maintains that many of the targeted listings do not require licenses and that the crackdown could negatively impact the economy by threatening jobs and income generated through tourism.

Despite these tensions, tourism remains a vital sector for Spain, which attracted a record 94 million visitors in 2024, making it the world’s second most-visited country. However, the growing conflict between economic benefits and residents’ quality of life is prompting more stringent regulations. The government’s decisive action reflects a commitment to prioritizing housing rights over commercial interests, aiming to restore balance in the housing market and protect the rights of local residents to access affordable housing.