At the moment, "Spain tourist ban" is one of the biggest search trends in the entire United States. It is no secret by now, Spain is doing its part to avoid overtourism. They set a two-year ban on short-term rentals earlier in the year in Alicante.

Spain has introduced new regulations that could affect some tourists visiting the country for their summer holidays this year. However, a rule change brought in at one of its most popular resorts prompted panic and confusion after it was mistakenly characterised as a “tourist ban”.

In response to the expanding worries, Spanish authorities have launched new measures to gain control of the over-tourism.

Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world and last year welcomed a record-breaking 94 million tourists. It’s a particular favourite with Brits, who made up the biggest proportion of visitors in 2024.

Here's what to know about this Spanish region's recent decision to change its tourism rental laws, and what this means for you as an international tourist.