Record Tourism Growth and Social Unrest in Andalusia

• Andalusia recorded a historic 13.84 million tourists in 2025, with projections for 2026 reaching at least 14.2 million.
• While 15% of the population works in tourism, 45.7% of residents cannot afford a vacation, with 23.6% citing lack of funds.
• A LLYC barometer ranks Andalusia as having the lowest public perception of tourism (4.1/10) in Spain.

Social Tension and Housing Crisis

• A sharp contrast exists between tourist satisfaction (9.2/10) and local sentiment (4.1/10).
• Negative perception is driven by the displacement of residents due to the expansion of tourist accommodations in Seville, Granada, and Malaga.
• Malaga faces what organizations call a "humanitarian crisis" regarding housing, with 80% of properties in Plaza de la Merced being tourist apartments.
• Locals report the privatization of public spaces, antisocial behavior, and the erosion of neighborhood life as major grievances.

Debate Over Tourism Taxation

• Municipalities and social organizations have long campaigned for a tourism tax, similar to those in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.
• The Andalusian government, currently influenced by right-wing leadership, maintains that tourism is an essential sector and explicitly rejects any form of tax or "fiscalization" of the industry.