Record-breaking numbers of tourists to visit Spain – but locals aren’t happy

• Spain's Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo acknowledges the challenges posed by record tourism numbers, with 94 million international visitors last year and projections of 100 million this year.
• A housing crisis, marked by skyrocketing home and rental costs in cities like Madrid and Barcelona, is fueling frustration over the increase of short-term rentals.
• The Spanish government is cracking down on illegal Airbnb listings in response to protests demanding action on housing affordability.
• The Bank of Spain reports a deficit of 450,000 homes, with Minister Cuerpo emphasizing the need to build more public housing to address the issue.
• Minister Cuerpo also addressed potential US tariffs on EU goods, stating the EU aims to strengthen economic ties with the US but will protect its firms and industries if necessary.

IN FULL

Spain cannot ignore ‘overtourism’ problems as 100 million visitors expected this year