The city of San Sebastian in Spain is planning to ban the construction of new hotels and short-term rentals for leisure accommodation.
This measure is set to take effect as early as next year, as reported by schengenvisainfo.com. This ban is linked to the overabundance of tourists and the necessity to curb tourism in the future. Presently, the statistics show that for every 100 local residents in San Sebastian, there are 10 tourists.
Overtourism has already led to a decline in the quality of local cuisine and culture. The mayor of San Sebastian believes that the city already has a sufficient number of hotels and other accommodation for tourists.
Measures such as limiting or banning Airbnb have previously been taken in other popular regions of Spain, for instance in Palma de Mallorca. The residents of Barcelona are dissatisfied with the abundance of tourists.
The significant influx of tourists has caused growing dissatisfaction among local inhabitants. Many landmarks and attractions in San Sebastian are “adorned” with unequivocal messages saying “Go home!”
It is expected that measures such as prohibiting the construction of new hotels and restricting other tourist accommodations will lead to an increase in prices for vacations in San Sebastian.
There won’t be a complete ban on tourism in the city. This new step by the authorities will allow for an improvement in the quality of life for both locals and tourists.
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