MADRID, Jan 13 (Reuters) – The number of short-term rentals for tourists in Ibiza fell by almost half in 2025 from the previous year, as Spain’s crackdown on vacation homes and overtourism began to take effect.
The supply of short-term rentals on the popular tourist island is now 80% lower than in 2017, tourism association Exceltur said. Across Spain, ads fell 4% in the second half of 2025 from the previous year — the first nationwide decline — although trends vary across the 25 largest cities.
Authorities are tightening the rules, in the face of complaints from local residents that tourist demand is putting pressure on rents and house prices.
Ibiza has stepped up inspections to weed out unauthorized listings, according to the local government website, while Barcelona plans to ban all holiday homes by 2028.
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Ibiza and Mallorca recorded the biggest falls in short-term rentals, while coastal centers such as Malaga and Almeria continued to increase their supply of tourist accommodation, Exceltur said.
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New rules requiring properties to be registered before owners can list them on platforms like Airbnb are driving the change, according to Exceltur vice president Oscar Perelli.
Vacation rentals have been outpacing hotel growth for years, while Spain’s tourism boom has put it alongside France as the world’s top destination. Around a third of tourists still opt for houses, which continue to be cheaper than hotels.
Ibiza had the highest hotel revenue per room in Spain last year at 170 euros ($198), an increase of 6% compared to 2024, Exceltur reported.
