Fuengirola to limit new holiday rentals amid growing tourism pressure –

The Fuengirola Council has announced plans to limit new tourist rentals in response to a surge in holiday rental accommodations within the town. A recent report commissioned by the Council, revealed that holiday homes have increased by 30% since 2020, now accounting for 65% of all tourist accommodation in Fuengirola, with nearly 28,000 beds distributed across more than 5,500 holiday rental apartments.

This boom in holiday rental properties has placed considerable pressure on the town, where tourists now make up over 9% of the regular population. This figure is notably higher than in other major Andalusian cities, such as Seville, where tourists account for 3%, and Malaga, at 4.5%.

In response, the Fuengirola Council has decided to follow in the footsteps of other municipalities like Malaga by refusing to authorise new tourist apartments and licences that are not independently owned. The move aims to curb the expansion of large-scale, business-oriented rental operations rather than individual homeowners renting out their properties.

In addition to this policy shift, the Council has requested that the Junta de Andalucía cancel around 600 registrations of holiday rentals from the public regional registry. This action highlights the Council’s commitment to addressing concerns raised by residents, who recently expressed their frustrations through an online vote, where the proliferation of temporary holiday rentals emerged as their main issue.

The decision marks a big step in managing tourism’s impact on Fuengirola, balancing the needs of residents with the town’s popularity as a popular holiday destination.