Increase in tourist accommodation: municipalities set licences

Increase in tourist accommodation: municipalities suspend licences

In several municipalities in the Marina Baixa and Marina Alta, the number of tourist accommodations is steadily increasing, forcing the city councils to take action. Calp, Altea, Polop and La Vila Joiosa have already reacted or are planning measures to regulate the situation and stabilise the housing market for locals.

Measures taken by the municipalities

• Calp: The city council is suspending the granting of licences for the conversion of commercial premises into accommodation. This decision comes in light of over 1,000 new holiday homes in the last year and a half, bringing the total number to 5,365. The city is planning a two-year suspension to review urban planning and find solutions for affordable housing.
• Altea: The town has decided on a one-year moratorium to analyse the use of tourist accommodation. With over 2,200 registered holiday flats (13 % of the total building stock), Altea aims to achieve a balance between tourism and local housing needs.
• Polop: Here too, the granting of new licences for tourist accommodation has been suspended. Holiday homes make up 4.5 % of the housing stock. A study is to clarify how this type of letting can be regulated.
• La Vila Joiosa: The city council is also considering suspending permits for new holiday homes while a regulation of the sector is drawn up. There are currently 1,782 tourist accommodations with 7,830 beds registered in the city.

Background and current figures

• INE data: According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), six out of ten tourist flats in the Valencian Community are located in the province of Alicante.
• High concentration: Coastal towns such as Dénia and Calp are particularly affected, with 122 new accommodations registered between January and May 2024 alone.

Reactions of the administration

The mayor of Calp, Ana Sala, emphasised that a balance had to be found. „We are pioneers in solving a problem that affects many municipalities. Tourist rentals are necessary, but so is housing for locals,“ said Sala.

Other cities

• Benidorm and l'Alfàs del Pi: These towns have not yet taken any measures. In Benidorm, the number of tourist flats has been increased and some owners' associations have changed their statutes to regulate their use.

The increase in tourist accommodation in the Marina Baixa and Marina Alta is forcing the city councils to react quickly. While Calp, Altea, Polop and La Vila Joiosa have already taken action, other municipalities are still hesitating. The aim is to find a balance between promoting tourism and ensuring affordable housing for locals.