Demonstrations in the Canary Islands on Sunday attracted thousands of people while protestors have promised to stage further demonstrations in Barcelona this summer.
A report on BBC News quoted the minister for social rights, consumer affairs and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, as saying the rental properties in question had “violated various norms regarding housing for tourist use”.
The announcement followed a Madrid court ruling that Airbnb must immediately withdraw from the market 4,984 of the properties cited by the ministry.
The properties are in six regions: Madrid, Andalusia, Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country and the Balearic Islands.
According to the BBC report, Mr Bustinduy described the court’s decision as “a clear victory for those who fight to protect the right to housing.”
Protestors have claimed that Airbnb rentals have priced locals out of the housing market in favour of providing accommodation for tourists.
The cost of an average rental has doubled over the last decade, while salaries have failed to keep up.
Spain is the world’s second most popular tourist destination after France, with 94 million foreign visitors in 2024, a 13% rise on the previous year.
With the number of foreign visitors to Spain fast approaching 100 million per year, the unrest is expected to continue this summer.
