Valencia Takes Significant Steps To Crack Down On Overtourism & Illegal Rentals

Since the pandemic, certain popular destinations in the world are experiencing too many tourists and now, action is being taken against overtourism. The city of Valencia is the latest to tackle the major problem by cutting power to illegal vacation rentals. Moreover, the city is planning to cap cruise ships entering its harbor.

Valencia tackles overtourism

Like many European destinations, Valencia has been hit by overtourism, making life difficult for its permanent residents. Now, the city is taking action by planning new legislation to tackle the problem. Meanwhile, part of Valencia’s plans include hitting back on illegal short-term rentals in the city.

As the summer tourist season winds down and autumn is in the air, many popular destinations are working to control badly behaved tourists, as well as landlords who run illegal vacation rental accommodations. Located in eastern Spain, Valencia has announced its plans to cut power and water from illegal tourist accommodations.

Valencia’s mayor, María José Catalá, believes providing electricity and water to short-term rentals in the city has a serious impact on permanent residents. According to local media, the mayor told the State of the City Debate that the existence of tourist accommodations “impacts the price of rents, displaces the population… implies the gradual disappearance of local commerce in favor of tourist shops and implies an imbalance in public provisions,” which favors visitors over residents in the city.

Action taken against illegal tourist apartments

Meanwhile, Mayor Catalá looks to be taking the situation seriously. On behalf of the city council, she has requested the power to sanction illegal tourist apartments. Moreover, she plans to impose fines of up to €600,000 ($668,000) on landlords who refuse to comply with the new laws.

According to records, inspections of tourist apartments have increased by 454 percent in this year alone. Moreover, police activity on illegal tourist apartments has soared from 73 reports in 2022 to 449 up to now in 2024. Meanwhile, as of now, the closure of some 278 illegal vacation rentals has been ordered this year.

Restrictions on cruise ships in Valencia

Meanwhile, Valencia is also considering a cap on cruise ships in the city. The major suggested that a move may be taken to change the rules about cruise ships docking in its harbor.

According to La Vanguardia, Catalá said the issue of the ships “deserves reflection,” while suggesting the idea of “limiting and reducing the arrival of mega-cruise ships”.

Reportedly, plans are already in the works to set up a permanent group of members of the City Council, the Port Authority and the cruise sector “to regulate cruise traffic,” she said, adding:

We want to design a shared social and environmental sustainability strategy for cruises and ensure quality cruise tourism, seeking the deseasonalization of stopovers, the distribution of the flow of cruise passengers at the destination and planning.

Moreover, the major said her team will “prioritize those ships that use Valencia as a base port, that is, those that spend the night in the city and, therefore, that generate a greater economic impact and seek quality tourism.”

Valencia following Sevilla

Valencia’s move comes after the southern Spanish city of Sevilla was told by the council that it was within its rights to cut off the water supply to illegal tourist rentals. Moreover, before the decision was made in late August the iconic city had already disconnected the water supply to six illegal apartments.

Three of the property owners appealed the decision, but the judge accepted the council’s argument that the apartments were not the owners’ residences. Meanwhile, the council took into account the neighbors who complained about the noise from the rentals.

According to Sevilla’s council, there are around 5,000 illegal tourist rentals in the city, while there are some 10,000 legally licensed properties. Moreover, it confirmed that the water supply would only be restored if the apartments reverted to being regular rentals.