New data from the tourism industry group Exceltur shows Spain’s push to curb short-term tourist rentals is being outpaced by the market’s explosive growth, fueling existing concerns over housing affordability and overtourism.
The number of short-term rentals across Spain has jumped 25% in the past two years, despite efforts by policymakers to limit their spread. Hotel growth rose just 2% over the same period.
In Madrid, tourist rentals surged by almost 50% between 2022 and 2024, now accounting for 38% of 176,702 total visitor beds. While overtourism has long been a concern in the country, this new data highlights how difficult it has become for officials to catch up with the trend.
