Two Andalucia mayors have said they are ‘not looking for more tourists’ during a conference organised by SUR and Fundacion Unicaja.
The leaders of both Malaga and Cadiz admitted their destinations may already be at saturation point, warning that further growth could threaten long-term sustainability.
Bruno Garcia said Cadiz has already reached an ‘optimal point’ after a dramatic rise in cruise traffic, rising from just 30 ships in 2007 to around 350 today.
The focus now, he insisted, is not on increasing numbers but on protecting the city’s identity.
‘We’re not looking for more tourists, but for people who fall in love with Cadiz and respect coexistence,’ he said, highlighting efforts such as the electrification of port docks to reduce the environmental impact of cruise ships.
He also stressed the importance of preserving traditional neighbourhoods like La Viña and El Populo.
Francisco de la Torre, mayor of Malaga, struck a similar tone.
‘Urban tourism cannot grow indefinitely,’ he admitted, reiterating the city’s strategy of prioritising quality over quantity.
Malaga has already introduced measures aimed at controlling the impact of tourism, including a moratorium on tourist apartments and renewed calls for a tourist tax.
Both mayors acknowledged that housing is now one of the biggest challenges linked to tourism growth.
In Cadiz, Garcia said authorities have already removed 500 tourist properties that were being misused, in a bid to free up housing for residents.
‘My first obligation is to ensure there are homes for locals,’ he said. ‘Tourism is important but living in the city comes first.
In Malaga, De la Torre suggested that if a tourist tax were introduced, up to 50% of the revenue could be used to reduce rental costs for families, with the rest reinvested into higher-quality tourism.
The comments reflect a broader shift across Spain, where popular destinations are increasingly trying to balance economic benefits with quality of life for residents.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
