Almost 80% of Spaniards blame tourist flats for driving up rents and worsening the country’s housing crisis, a new survey has found.

There is also widespread concern that Airbnb-style rentals are sparking tensions between holidaymakers and residents, according to the study by the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS).

The Tourism and Gastronomy survey interviewed 6,029 people over the summer.

It found 79.3% either agreed or strongly agreed that the proliferation of tourist accommodation increases rental prices and makes access to permanent housing more difficult.

Meanwhile, 76.7% said tourist properties frequently generate neighbourhood and coexistence problems between visitors and locals.

The results provide striking evidence of Spanish public opinion at a time when authorities at national, regional and municipal level are introducing or considering tighter controls on holiday accommodation.

The CIS survey also revealed widespread concern about the potential impact of climate change on Spain’s tourism industry.

Some 82.5% believe the effects of global warming will be negative for tourism, compared with just 10.5% who think they could prove beneficial.

And almost eight in 10 (79.2%) strongly or broadly agreed that rising temperatures could reduce the number of tourists visiting Spain’s Mediterranean coast during the summer.

At the same time, a striking 90.9% expect summer tourism demand to increase in northern Spain as holidaymakers seek alternatives to hotter destinations.

Some 80.6% believe climate change will affect the tourism sector over the coming decade, with 66.4% expecting that impact to be negative.

Spaniards still love the coast

Despite concerns about rising temperatures, sun-and-beach holidays remain the country’s favourite type of getaway.

Some 38.8% of respondents selected sun and beach destinations as their preferred holiday, ahead of cultural tourism on 20.8% and nature-focused trips on 16.3%.

When asked more specifically where they stay, 38.2% favour coastal towns or locations close to the coast, while 25.8% prefer coastal cities. Another 21.4% opt for rural or mountain villages.

Hotels and aparthotels remain comfortably the most popular accommodation choice, used by 46.9% of respondents.

Only 14% said they typically use rented homes or tourist apartments, while 12.6% stay with friends or relatives.

In terms of holiday length, 31.4% typically get away for between one and two weeks, while 28.8% take a week-long break. Some 19.4% holiday for more than two weeks and 16% for less than seven days.