This Spanish city is actively discouraging tourists and is urging them to return to their homes.

Photos: istocks

In Malaga, Spain, residents have launched a growing movement against tourism, marked by the placement of stickers on buildings urging tourists to 'go home.' These stickers, prominently affixed to tourist apartments, bear messages like 'stinks of tourists,' 'a family used to live here,' and 'before this was my house.'

Many locals in Malaga are expressing frustration over the increasing influx of tourists and the resulting challenges they face, particularly the scarcity of affordable housing. Rising rental costs, driven by the limited availability of affordable accommodation, have exacerbated the situation, with numerous properties now exclusively rented to tourists.

One resident, Dani Drunko, a bar owner, shared his experience of being forced to vacate his longtime residence, which was converted into a short-term holiday rental. He recounted receiving photos of new stickers daily, indicating a growing momentum among citizens discontented with the situation.

Despite the protest, Drunko clarified that their opposition is not against tourists but rather the lack of housing regulation and the displacement of residents. Local politician Dani Perez echoed these sentiments, criticizing the lack of action from the town hall and the widespread presence of tourist rentals in residential buildings.

However, not everyone supports the anti-tourism campaign. Local lawyer Juan Luis Gomez argued against outright rejection of tourism, emphasizing the need for regulation instead.

It's worth noting that Costa del Sol remains a popular destination for British holidaymakers, with a record 14 million visitors in 2023. Additionally, data from Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE) shows that a significant number of new residents in Malaga are foreigners.