Spain implements sustainable tourism strategy amid local protests

In Málaga, approximately 300 residents participated in a coastal march through the El Palo and Pedregalejo neighborhoods to protest the impact of mass tourism. Organized by the platform ‘Málaga para vivir El Palo-Pedregalejo’, demonstrators argued that rising prices and tourism expansion are fueling a housing crisis, stating that neighborhoods should be for living rather than speculation.

On a national level, Spain is implementing a ‘Tourism 2030’ strategy to address these systemic issues. The government aims to prioritize ecological and social sustainability over sheer visitor volume, as international arrivals are expected to reach 100 million this year. The multi-ministerial initiative seeks to balance the economic importance of tourism—which contributes 12.6 percent to the national GDP—with the quality of life for local residents. The strategy includes a three-phase roadmap to tackle housing shortages, climate change, and regional depopulation by encouraging ‘slow travel’ and diversifying destinations away from overcrowded centers.