The Canary Islands are one of the most popular holiday destinations among Brits - but tourists are now being warned of a huge change planned for all hotels in Spain , including those in Tenerife . In the wake of recent anti-tourism protests in hotspots loved by holidaymakers such as Tenerife and Mallorca, authorities said they are cracking down on holiday rentals. This is because locals have become frustrated at soaring property costs and busy city streets.
The latest figures from the National Statistics Agency (INE) revealed that Spain received a record 85.1 million international tourists in 2023 - 19 per cent more than the previous year. And in 2024, the number is expected to go up to 95 million - a 10 per cent increase on last year.
To help locals live affordably and comfortably, authorities said they want to reduce the number of holiday rentals while also encouraging luxury hotels to expand in order to accommodate those no longer able to stay in rental homes and apartments. Earlier this year, Barcelona and Tenerife announced a ban and stricter rules on tourist apartments, aiming to reduce supply. Although Barcelona will keep its ban on building new hotels downtown, existing establishments will be able to upgrade their classification, reports the Express .
Authorities will support a plan to open 5,000 new hotel beds in other areas while shutting all of its 10,000 tourist apartments by 2028. Jaume Collboni, the mayor of Barcelona, said: "We can do little about demand, but w.