MADRID, Spain: Spain's push to curb short-term tourist rentals is being outpaced by the market's explosive growth, new data shows — fueling concerns over housing affordability and overtourism.

According to a new report by the tourism industry group Exceltur, the number of short-term rentals across Spain has jumped 25 percent in the past two years, even as several city and regional governments have attempted to limit their spread. The increase has far outstripped hotel growth, which rose just two percent over the same period.

The report analyzed data from the top 50 tourism hotspots in Spain — destinations that accounted for half of all international arrivals in 2024. Many of these areas are facing a sharp housing shortage and rising tensions between tourists and residents.

In major cities like Madrid and Malaga, short-term rentals now represent a significant share of available beds for visitors. In Madrid, tourist rentals surged by 49 percent between 2022 and 2024, now accounting for 38 percent of 176,702 total visitor beds. Malaga saw a 36 percent increase, with short-term options making up 56 percent of the market. Even in Barcelona, where the city has maintained a moratorium on new permits for years, short-term rentals grew by 26 percent.

According to the Bank of Spain, Spain has a housing deficit of around 450,000 homes. Authorities have been trying to encourage property owners to take long-term leases by tightening regulations, especially in heavily visited cities.

Last week, the Spanish government ordered Airbnb to remove over 65,000 listings from its platform, which it said violated local rules. Airbnb said it plans to appeal.

Despite these steps, enforcement has been a challenge. "The big problem with these regulations is that, with traditional inspections, regional and local governments have been unable to enforce them," Exceltur vice president Oscar Perelli told Reuters.

Spain remains the world's second-most visited country after France, with 25.6 million international visitors in the first four months of 2024 — a seven percent increase year over year.

While overtourism has long been a concern, the new data highlights just how difficult it has become for officials to catch up with the trend.