Airbnbs, while destructive in some areas of Spain, help boost Almeria tourism.
Photo Credit: Steve Slater via Wikimedia Commons
WITH the rise of Airbnb rental services, and the increasing popularity of property and tourism on the Costa de Almeria, questions arise as to the effect on the locals’ day-to-day lives; where in some large cities like Barcelona or Madrid, Airbnbs drive up prices and push locals out of their homes, prompting firm clampdowns, smaller towns along the Costa may not have the same negative experiences with tourist lets … and indeed, some may even benefit.
This is the personal experience of Caroline Webb, an Almeria local who lives in an urbanisation in Almerimar, slightly out of the way of the main town. “Airbnbs can attract more visitors,” Webb commented. “Because it’s often cheaper or offers more space than hotels, some travelers who might not afford a trip (or would stay for fewer days) choose Airbnb instead. It also draws people who prefer ‘living like a local’ in neighbourhoods outside the usual tourist zones.”
Indeed, a large part of Airbnb’s main appeal comes from the experience of living like a “true” local; rather than staying at a busy hotel, visitors to the Costa de Almeria often opt for staying in a traditional home or flat, which offers an immersive and memorable look into the daily lives of Spanish residents.
Airbnbs: Useful tourism tool, or price-spiking curse?
When asked if Airbnb pushes housing to unaffordable levels in her area, Webb said that “Airbnb makes housing more expensive in busy tourist cities because homes are rented to visitors instead of locals.” The whole of Spain has undergone a restrictive clampdown on tourist lets that saw cancellations of Homes for Touristic Use, or VUTs, all over the country, and 686 of those in Almeria. While busier towns like Mojacar, Albox, or Vera might see a very slight spiking of housing prices as a direct result of tourist lets, the housing prices in smaller towns like Almerimar are, for the most part, unaffected by Airbnb.
The same is true of property crime. “I don’t feel confident saying there has been a clear increase in property crime in Almerimar,” said Webb. “There are occasional thefts and break-ins, which suggests property crime is something to be aware of – but not necessarily that it’s getting significantly worse.” While the aforementioned larger cities with larger populations – and larger populations of youths – may experience a spike in housing-related crime, tranquil areas like the region of Almeria experience less of it, and not necessarily because of the increase of tourist lets or rowdy holidaymakers.
Britons not discouraged by tourist let crackdown
Notwithstanding, the region boasts a heavy demand for tourism, particularly from British expatriates, who famously have a love affair with Spain and with the region of Almeria in particular. In the case of Almerimar, which boasts beaches, waves, sunshine, and quaint local spots, the tourist attraction is apparent. Though not as booked and busy as Mallorca or Barcelona, the region experiences a healthy amount of tourism – both inland and on the coasts – and the Airbnb owners as well as hotel owners continue to thrive there.