Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
THE President of the Costa del Sol Hoteliers Association has warned that the growing sentiment of tourismophobia in Spain is ‘extremely dangerous’ and could harm the country’s leading economic sector.
In an interview Malaga Hoy, Jose Luque expressed concern over the narrative that blames tourism for the housing crisis, describing it as ‘very dangerous’ and based on ‘simplistic arguments’.
Luque stressed that the housing crisis is a complex problem influenced by factors like inadequate urban planning and legal uncertainty in rental laws.
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He claimed that demonising the tourism industry is a misguided strategy that fails to address these underlying issues.
Highlighting the economic significance of tourism, Luque noted that the industry generates €11 billion annually and supports approximately 125,000 jobs in the province of Malaga.
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He warned that negative perceptions about tourism could discourage visitors, particularly as reports of “tourismophobia” gain momentum in key markets such as Germany and the UK.
Luque called on a balanced approach to housing issues that does not undermine the tourism sector. He advocated for solutions that take into account the needs of both residents and tourists as well as property owners.
