Headlines circulating this week suggest British tourists could be unwelcome on Spanish soil – so what’s the reality?

Spain attracted a record/whopping 94 million tourists last year, making the Southern European nation famous for its Mediterranean coastline and historic sites one of the most visited countries on earth.

Spain isn’t banning tourists, but new regulations are cracking down on short-term rentals. We VERIFY what travelers should know.

Barcelona, Spain’s most popular destination for international tourists, announced a total ban on holiday apartments – of which there are currently around 10,000 – by 2029. A five-year ban on new holiday rentals could be implemented in the Canary Islands if a new bill is passed by parliament.

Spain has introduced new regulations that could affect some tourists visiting the country for their summer holidays this year. However, a rule change brought in at one of its most popular resorts prompted panic and confusion after it was mistakenly characterised as a “tourist ban”.

The biggest change is that the EU's Entry and Exit System (EES) will finally be launched in 2025, most likely in the first half of the year.