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By *otMe66 OP Man 9 weeks ago
Terra Firma |
Hi,
I use AirBnB when visiting Spain and would like to understand the local mood a little more before my next trip.
This is for locals in Spain:
What is the actual mood of the protests and where are protests most prevalent?
I have read the Canary Islands are a hotspot along with Malaga and Barcelona, are other areas facing protests?
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By *essysteveCouple 9 weeks ago
ALICANTE AREA SPAIN |
Hi there, We are expats who have lived here for 5 years and we ccertainly enjoy the Spanish way of life and have never felt threaten in this lovely country. We see the reports in the British redtop papers but what is happening are peaceful protests in some major cities on the mainland and on some of the Islands.
The protests are against the Government because of unaffordable housing for locals as tourists are buting them up and also about low wages. I have not seen or heard of issues aimed directly at tourists, as Spain could not, and would not be sustainable without tourism as this is their main source of income. So come on over to Spain and enjoy your holidays |
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Been there 3 times this year, already. And 4 times last year. Five different places. Apart from one piece of graffiti as you approach Playa Tejita, in Tenerife, havent experienced anything negative whatsoever. |
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By *den_GCCouple 9 weeks ago
San Fernando, Gran Canaria |
In PDI (I live here as an expat and business owner) there are NO ill feelings towards tourist or tourism
Our island NEEDS tourists and tourism to survive
Don't believe everything you read  |
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By *otMe66 OP Man 9 weeks ago
Terra Firma |
Thanks for the information.
My main concern is AirBnB accommodation, after reading the government was introducing rules that would remove a large number of rental properties from being listed.
I'm leaning towards hotels as I don't want to get caught up in property being delisted and end up losing both the accommodation and money. |
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"Hi there, We are expats who have lived here for 5 years and we ccertainly enjoy the Spanish way of life and have never felt threaten in this lovely country. We see the reports in the British redtop papers but what is happening are peaceful protests in some major cities on the mainland and on some of the Islands.
The protests are against the Government because of unaffordable housing for locals as tourists are buting them up and also about low wages. I have not seen or heard of issues aimed directly at tourists, as Spain could not, and would not be sustainable without tourism as this is their main source of income. So come on over to Spain and enjoy your holidays "
This
I would add that AirB&B's are causing a fair bit of resentment.
Spanish property prices (both purchase and rental) have risen considerably in the last few years. A lot (but not all) of it on the back of of investors buying up property's for short term lets.
However government policy has also had a big influence.
Private landlords are scared to death of long term lets and many would sooner leave them empty rather than exposing themselves to Spanish tenancy laws and the sclerotic legal system. Which allows a tenant to move in, stop paying rent and it can take 2 or 3 or more years to get them out with no hope of recouping a cent in lost rent and quite often getting the property back trashed.
Government policy seems to be based on going to war with short term lets while turning a blind eye to squatters in the hope that it will encourage more long term lets. It won't.
Back to the protests.
Most are on the islands and a couple of city's. In our area (south Costa Blanca) we've seen very little. I read about a small protest in Alicante city last year but that's about it.
Tourism is the lifeblood of the Spanish economy, not only from the UK but the whole of Europe and beyond. Over 85 million international visitors in 2023.
Not all jobs are waiters and chambermaids. Airport staff, food and drink suppliers, delivery drivers, maintenance workers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, the list could go on. All of them, in some way, reap the benefit of tourism. All that in a country with the highest unemployment rate in the EU.
And don't forget that the Spanish construction industry rely's heavily on foreign buyers.
Sanchez needs to get his act together but hammering tourism would really be killing the goose that lays the golden egg. |
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