Record-breaking numbers of tourists to visit Spain – but locals aren't happy

Spain 's Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo acknowledges the challenges posed by record tourism numbers, with 94 million international visitors last year and projections of 100 million this year.
A housing crisis, marked by skyrocketing home and rental costs in cities like Madrid and Barcelona, is fueling frustration over the increase of short-term rentals.
The Spanish government is cracking down on illegal Airbnb listings in response to protests demanding action on housing affordability.
The Bank of Spain reports a deficit of 450,000 homes, with Minister Cuerpo emphasizing the need to build more public housing to address the issue.
Minister Cuerpo also addressed potential US tariffs on EU goods, stating the EU aims to strengthen economic ties with the US but will protect its firms and industries if necessary.

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Reuters

2 hours ago

• Reuters

Spain agrees with NATO to skip 5% defence spending target

MADRID, June 22 (Reuters) - Spain agreed with the NATO military alliance to be excluded from spending 5% of its gross domestic product on defence, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday. "A 5% spending would be disproportionate and unnecessary," Sanchez said in an address on national television. "We fully respect the legitimate desire of other countries to increase their defence investment, but we are not going to do it," he said, adding Spain could meet all its commitments to NATO, in terms of staff or equipment, by spending only 2.1% of its GDP. Diplomats had said earlier on Sunday the 32 countries comprising NATO had agreed on a statement for the upcoming summit setting a goal of 5% of GDP for annual defence and security related by 2035 overcoming Spain's objection. In a letter sent on Thursday, Sanchez had told NATO chief Mark Rutte his country wanted to opt out of a new 5% spending target. The letter raised concerns that Spain would derail the whole summit. At an estimated 1.28% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Sanchez agreed in April to accelerate efforts to meet NATO's current target of 2% this year.

The Sun

11 hours ago

• The Sun

‘It's my new favourite Spanish destination' – The pretty city with €2.50 wine and Europe's biggest flea market

OUR new column gives you the lowdown on what to see and do in your favourite holiday hotspots. This week we turn the spotlight on Spanish capital Madrid, with the help of a true expert. 6 6 The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey recently visited the city. She said: "I've been lucky enough to visit a number of Spanish cities, and Madrid has become my favourite. "It feels more livable than other more tourist destinations, with an amazing food and drink scene. "I mingled with the locals at Pez, where the only thing on the menu is huge sloppy pieces of tortilla chased with a cana (small beer) or tinto de verano for €2.50. "Otherwise my favourite rooftop bar is El Cielo de Montera, which felt more like a swanky rooftop members club. "The pool is reserved for hotel guests, but its the best place for an Aperol Spritz and views of the city (costs €10 but it gets taken off her bill). "Otherwise catch some live music at Sala Equi, a former adult-movie theatre turned bar/live music venue. D"on't forget to visit the famous Prado Museum after 6pm for free tickets. "And it is often called one of Europe's most walkable city but I fell in love with the Metro, making it super easy to get around. And Hannah Shaw is British Airways Holidays' destination executive for the city and here she shares her favourite tips... 6 6 MUST SEE / DO The peaceful Parque del Retiro is often considered as the locals' equivalent to a beach. This tranquil park offers rowboat rentals on a picturesque lake, pretty rose gardens and the historic Crystal Palace. The Plaza Mayor, Madrid 's grand central square, and the Royal Palace are must-sees. But also take time to visit the Sunday market of El Rastro - it's the largest open-air market in Europe and the place to pick up a bargain. HIDDEN GEMS Enjoy a picnic lunch at the lake of Casa de Campo, Madrid's largest public park. And head to the vibrant neighbourhood of Lavapies - full of energy and history, it is one of the best spots to get an authentic local experience in the city. Wander around the colourful narrow streets and explore a variety of captivating architecture and quaint little shops. 6 BEST VIEW The Sky Bar terrace on the 27th floor of the Hotel Riu Plaza Espana, in the grand Edificio Espana on Madrid's Gran Via, offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the city. Sunset is best for admiring the city as it comes alive after dark with live music and classy cocktails. But the glass-floored bridge that connects two parts of the terrace is not for vertigo sufferers. RATED RESTAURANTS Take your pick of gourmet specialities at the Mercado San Miguel - this fabulous food market features Spain 's finest produce and regional specialities. For the best churros, head to Chocolateria San Gines, and tapas lovers should make a beeline for La Casa del Abuelo or Casa Toni. For the best paella in Madrid, head to Arroceria. BEST BAR The Calle 365 Discoteca is a stylish nightspot with dancing, delicious food trucks, cocktails and beers from just £2.50. For something a little different, try La Santoria, a speakeasystyle joint in the centre of the city behind an unassuming door where your clue is the bell to ring. HOTEL PICK The H10 Puerta de Alcala in the Salamanca neighbourhood is well located for exploring, and just 100 yards from the Parque del Retiro. Enjoy a dip in its rooftop pool after a busy day, or a drink on the terrace with stunning city views. Two nights' room-only at the hotel is from £321 per person including flights from Heathrow on May 15. See

Telegraph

a day ago

• Telegraph

Prostitutes, a porn star and a bouncer - Spanish PM Sanchez embroiled in corruption scandal

Spain's Teflon Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez swept to power seven years ago, vowing to clean up Spanish politics. Now his Socialist party (PSOE) is engulfed in a corruption scandal involving prostitutes, public contracts, kickbacks, secret recordings, a former nightclub bouncer and a porn star. His wife faces a separate investigation into allegations of influence-peddling, and there are claims that party officials created a job especially for his musician brother David. Mr Sánchez's enemies call him the 'dog' because they say he is impossible to get rid of, but the graft scandal is now threatening to finally bring him down. Europe's most influential Left-wing leader is well aware of the risks, and the irony, of his invidious position. Mr Sánchez ousted his scandal-hit conservative predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, by winning a vote of no confidence against him in 2018. Spain's National Court had ruled that Mr Rajoy's Partido Popular (PP) was guilty of 'institutional corruption'. Mr Sánchez promised a new era of 'democratic regeneration' as he cobbled together a coalition of communists, separatists and former terrorist organisation Eta's political wing to grab power. His grip on Spain's government has not slipped in the years since, despite the recent massive blackouts, deadly floods in Valencia, or the allegations about his family. His taste for woke politics has enraged the Spanish Right and he has clashed with Donald Trump and refused to commit to a new Nato defence spending target. Such controversies bounce off the bulletproof prime minister thanks to the deeply polarised world of Spanish politics. None of the rag-tag bunch of Leftists propping up his government want to be the one to break ranks for fear of handing power to a coalition of the PP and the far-Right Vox. But the pressure is building on the handsome Madrileño after weeks in which his Socialist party has been roiled by seedy revelation after grubby exposé. It is the involvement of sex workers and porn stars that has particularly appalled his woke allies, who so far, have stopped short of collapsing the government. But Yolanda Díaz, the deputy prime minister and leader of far-Left Sumar, and her ministers pointedly left their front-bench seats in Congress empty when Mr Sanchez fought for his political life, trading blows with opposition leaders on Wednesday. It was a sign that the pressure was beginning to tell after months of the spotlight shining on PSOE party cadres and some of Mr Sánchez's closest comrades. Santos Cerdán, a long-time close ally of Mr Sánchez resigned as party secretary last week. A police report revealed his alleged involvement in charging companies for accessing public works contracts in his home region of Navarre and elsewhere. Mr Sánchez was humiliatingly forced to apologise for being 'mistaken' about Mr Cerdán. He had backed him, despite a flurry of rumours after criminal investigations were opened last year into his Navarran associate, Koldo García. Mr Garcia is a former nightclub bouncer and chauffeur who worked his way up the Socialist party ladder and became a key aide to José Luis Ábalos. Mr Ábalos, along with Mr Cerdán, backed Mr Sánchez from party outsider to winner in two primary processes a decade ago, playing a key role in his ascent to power. He is suspected by a supreme court judge of helping himself to hundreds of thousands of euros in kickbacks from companies during his spell as transport and infrastructure minister between 2018 and 2021. Ábalos was also Socialist party secretary until Mr Sánchez dropped him from the post and the cabinet in 2021. The prime minister insisted on Wednesday that the Cerdán crisis was a mere 'anecdote'. But secret recordings underpinning the investigation make painful listening because of his old comrades discussing and comparing the merits of sex workers. Mr Sánchez made the fight against sexism in macho Spain a touchstone of his government, and the tapes are a major embarrassment for a politician with a sweeping feminist agenda. 'This disgusts us. The sexist terms expressed are absolutely incompatible with the feminist values of this party,' Mr Sánchez said. A source close to the government told The Telegraph that Mr Sánchez's decision to suddenly drop Mr Ábalos before the corruption probes began was 'due to his proclivity for prostitutes'. One morning in early June, Mr Ábalos's home in Valencia was searched by police. They found the former minister in the company of a woman named only as Anaís, a 32-year-old model. She was later revealed by the newspaper El Mundo to be a porn star using the name Letizia Hilton. According to reports, Mr Ábalos made a failed attempt to sneak a hard drive out of the house under the noses of police investigators by hiding it in his female companion's pocket when officers allowed her out to walk the dog. Police investigation Mr García, commonly referred to by all as simply 'Koldo', is reported to have recorded and filed all of his conversations over more than a decade of running errands for top Socialists. Police are examining the contents of four memory sticks full of recordings and have reportedly recovered others he attempted to erase but which were recovered from the cloud. In one, he says: 'I'm fed up. They treat me like a stupid small-town boy: I'm very coarse, I'm capable of breaking a guy's legs just because they ask me to (…) But with time, you learn.' Who has recorded whom saying what has become key in the case, and there is paranoia among Socialist ranks as to what files kept by Mr Ábalos and his sidekick Mr García could contain. Sources with access to the police investigation have told The Telegraph that police reports are being compiled on at least one other minister over their Ábalos connection. Mr Sánchez has insisted that the Socialist party is not corrupt and has ordered a fresh external audit of the party's finances. A PP source told The Telegraph that leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo is now sure that 'it is just a matter of time' before Mr Sánchez falls. That will depend on the next batch of leaked recordings and whether a strong connection can be built by investigators between Mr Cerdán's side deals and party financing. Mr Sanchez's rivals are hoping to do to what he did to Mariano Rajoy seven years ago. Mr Feijóo accused Mr Sánchez of being 'deeply ensnared in a corruption scheme' during their fiery clash in the Spanish parliament. 'No matter how much you disguise yourself, you are not the victim. We Spaniards are the victim,' Mr Feijóo told Mr Sánchez, before mocking his refusal to call early elections 'because you know you will lose'.