British Tourists Banned From Spain? Don’t Believe Everything You Read!

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to read the British tabloids this month then you’ll already be aware of a series of articles suggesting that Spain is banning British tourists from travelling to the country.

These headlines can be scary, but the good news is that they’re also not true. It doesn’t matter how many stories British and Irish tabloids print claiming that Brits aren’t welcome in Spain anymore, in fact, tourists in Spain are as welcome as ever.

So why are these headlines being published, and what do they actually mean? We debunk all the myths and tell you what’s actually happening instead!

What Is The Tabloid Media Reporting?

According to both English and Irish tabloid print media and English-language websites, Spain has implemented a ‘tourist ban’ that will impact British travelers this summer.

Examples of headlines relating to this story include "Spain's new three-year tourist ban and what it means for Brits" from The Mirror and "Spain's new three-year tourist ban and what it means for Irish travellers” from the Irish Mirror.

"Spain tourist ban: British holidaymakers set to suffer under THREE YEARS of new restrictions" was the headline from GB News, who are known for courting controversy. Birmingham Live wrote "UK tourists forced to 'cancel' Spain holidays over three years of restrictions".

The reason for these scaremongering articles? Because authorities in Malaga have decided to clampdown on the registration of new tourist apartments. This is something that was announced by the local authorities in the city last November.

While this will mean that there is slightly fewer AirBnbs and other holiday rentals available in the city, it doesn’t mean you can’t book one if available, or stay in one of the many hotels in the city. British tourists are as welcome in Spain as ever!

It’s also worth noting that Malaga isn’t the only Spanish city (or indeed European city) restricting Airbnb or short term holiday rentals in order to safeguard accommodation for residents. These types of lets have a negative impact on rents and property prices in urban areas.

Protests Against Tourism

It’s true that in certain parts of Spain, there have been well publicized protests against tourism in the past 12 months. Barcelona, the Canaries, the Balearics, and Málaga in particular have experienced protests suggesting that tourists ‘go home’ but in reality demonstrators are asking that local authorities shift away from the mass tourism model as well as for their neighbourhoods to stop being gentrified. So much of the Spanish economy relies on tourism. And many of the demonstrators feel that this model isn’t sustainable, that it leaves them feeling like second-class citizens in their own home cities.

But these demonstrators are just a small percentage of people tourists will encounter in Spain. The vast majority are welcoming and friendly. You may see some anti-tourism graffiti on walls, or be handed an anti-tourism leaflet but these are aimed at the authorities rather than at the tourists themselves.

We have Airbnb restrictions, and we have a small group with anti tourism sentiment. But this doesn’t, in any way, translate to a nationwide tourist ban. Noone in even the most minor position of authority in Spain has ever suggested such a thing!

A Long Line Of Fake News Stories

This isn’t the first time that the British tabloids have exaggerated the news coming out of Spain to sell newspapers. And almost all of these are myths that can be debunked. These stories often show Spain in a bad light, or shine a light on anti-tourism sentiment in the country.

Some examples of these include the supposed ban on tourists drinking alcohol in the Balearics (in fact, drink limits were just introduced in some all-inclusive resorts), fines for urinating in the sea in the country (I have no idea how this could or would be enforced) and Lanzarote’s ban on British tourists (another false news headline). The list of stories based on no, or very little, truth is near-endless.

Some legislations are being introduced to lessen the negative impacts that tourism can have in Spain. But this isn’t a Spain-exclusive problem. Overtourism, and legislation to combat it, are being introduced in countries all over Europe. But these legislations are not aimed solely at British tourists, and they don’t mean that tourists (British or otherwise) are unwanted in the country.

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