Spain is set to revolutionize tourism as a court backs Barcelona’s bold move to ban 10,000 holiday rentals by 2028, aiming to reshape travel and housing trends.

UK travellers heading to Spain have been put on alert as a major change in the country’s tourism policy edges closer to reality. A significant ban on holiday apartment rentals has taken another step forward following a pivotal court ruling in Spain.

One of Spain’s highest courts has now endorsed Barcelona’s controversial move to phase out short-term holiday rentals by 2028. The court dismissed a legal appeal claiming that the regulation violated private property rights—a decision that signals stronger momentum behind the city’s tourism reform plans, according to a Reuters report on Saturday, March 15.

The court ruled that the regional decree aimed at regulating tourist accommodation “does not amount to a deprivation of property rights.” However, global rental platform Airbnb has urged Mayor Jaume Collboni to reconsider, arguing that the policy unfairly tilts the market in favour of traditional hotels.

In parallel, the European Holiday Home Association has raised objections at a higher level, submitting a formal complaint to the European Commission against Catalonia’s regional government for enabling municipalities like Barcelona to impose such bans.

Despite criticism, Barcelona remains firm on its stance. The city will maintain its current restrictions on the development of new hotels in central areas, although existing hotels will be allowed to upgrade their star ratings. At the same time, officials plan to introduce 5,000 new hotel beds across less saturated areas to offset the tourism shift.

Barcelona’s broader strategy, led by Mayor Collboni, involves a complete phase-out of the city’s 10,000 licensed tourist apartments by the year 2028, reshaping the future of Spain’s holiday rental landscape.

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