Thousands marched in Madrid on Sunday to demand affordable housing as locals grow frustrated at being priced out of the market
Oct 15, 2024
Under the slogan “Housing is a right, not a business,” residents of the Spanish capital marched to demand lower rents and better living conditions. According to government estimates, 12,000 people took to the streets in the protest.
Key takeaways
- Spain, the second most visited country after France, is expected to welcome a record 95 million tourists this year, nearly double its population;
- In July, the Spanish government announced a crackdown on short-term and seasonal vacation rentals, aiming to verify the licensing of listings on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com;
- The country faces the challenge of balancing its tourism-driven economy with growing concerns about unaffordable rents, as gentrification and the rise of tourist rentals push up housing prices for locals.
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