Airbnb-style flats are expanding across Spain’s Malaga despite local backlash, figures show – these are the most affected neighbourhoods

MALAGA is seeing an expansion of Airbnb-style flats despite backlash from locals, according to new data these are most affected areas. 

As a nationwide debate about anti-tourism sweeps Spain, tourist lets are exploding in Malaga city.

Now, new data has revealed 20% of homes in six areas are Airbnb-style tourist flats. 

Published by the Urban and Social Studies Institute (IEUS), the study showed that in some areas such as El Palo or Huelin the amount of tourist has tripled.  

READ MORE: Airbnb crackdown on Spain’s Costa del Sol: Major resort cancels 600 tourist flat licences and hikes up taxes

In just six years, El Palo has gained 779 such flats, reaching over a thousand in total. 

Despite a 270% increase, it is not the area with the most growth. 

In fact, Huelin has seen growth of 310%, with 993 tourist lets. 

They are not the only areas of Malaga with extreme increases in tourist accommodation. 

READ MORE: Spain’s third most visited city will cut off water supply to illegal Airbnb-style apartments

Pedregalejo also deserves a special mention, with over a thousand flats increasing 244% since 2018. 

In total, Malaga has 65,794 stays registered as tourist lets. 

According to the study, which divided the city into 200×200 metre squares, there are many areas where tourist accommodation accounts for over 10% of the housing. 

For instance, 14% of El Palo residences are tourist flats, while in Huelin, this figure stands at 10%.

Montaño, Malaga centre, is the most saturated area in the city, with almost one tourist flats per five inhabitants.

READ MORE: Illegal tourist flat crackdown in Spain: Building in Mallorca made up of 12 unlicensed Airbnb-style homes is fined almost €1million