Alicante's popular beaches are a major tourist attraction, notably during summers (Photo: Alicante Turismo)
To curb overtourism, Alicante, a popular port city on Costa Blanca in south-eastern Spain, has decided to impose a two-year ban on new licences for short-term rental accommodations.
Alicante receives thousands of British, German and American tourists everyday, notably during the summer months, leading to large-scale overcrowding in the city, pretty much like its fellow-Spanish destinations such as Barcelona, Mallorca and Malaga.
Alicante is a storehouse of heritage which is celebrated through festivals (Photo: Alicante Turismo)
The decision to suspend new licenses comes in response to increasing concerns amongst the local residents as well as politicians about undue rise in prices for houses for long-term residents, especially the young and from economically weaker sections of the society. In 2024, widespread protests against tourism were seen across Europe, as residents believe that overtourism and soaring housing costs attributed at least in part due to a lack of housing caused by the existence of too many short-term vacation rentals.
The city officials of Alicante say that during the next two years, the local government will review the issue more widely to solve the housing issue, including setting a sustainable limit on short-term rentals. Late last year, Barcelonian government had announced that it would impose an outright ban on short-term rentals in the city from 2028.
Many other cities across Europe are also tinkering with legislation to limit, reduce or ban short-term rentals altogether. Alicante is believed to have over 4,000 short-term rental properties, many of which are not licensed as short-term rentals, according to the city council.