Tourism boom barring Spaniards from their own beaches
Official data shows a significant decline in local tourism to Spain 's top coastal destinations last year, while foreign visitor numbers surged by nearly two million.
Spain, the world's second-most visited country, expects a record 100 million foreign visitors this year, with tourism contributing over 13 per cent of its GDP.
Hotel prices have risen by 23 per cent in the past three years, and beachfront rentals have climbed by over 20 per cent since mid-2023, making them largely unaffordable for locals.
The Spanish government is encouraging international tourists to explore inland areas to alleviate overcrowding, while many Spaniards are now opting for cheaper inland holidays or Airbnb rentals.
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
How McAllan can tackle our housing emergency
The new Housing Secretary needs to put in place a ten-year plan to sort problems Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... New Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan has had a busy first month and has announced she is working on a plan to address Scotland's housing emergency which she will announce when Holyrood returns in the autumn. Given that housing charity Shelter Scotland recently named John Swinney's legislative agenda a 'Programme for Homelessness' it is clear that the Scottish Government must produce some positive and effective policies. More housebuilding is required, easier and quicker planning regulations, a long-term focus on addressing social housing shortages, and a much closer working relationship with the private rented sector (PRS) to both maintain existing stock and encourage greater investment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms McAllan said she would act on stalled developments, which she calls an 'untapped area,' and said the Scottish Government is 'brokering' those issues with developers to 'unlock tens of thousands of houses'. David J Alexander is an expert in Scotland's rental sector These developments are stalled due to continued uncertainty over the Scottish Government's direction on the private rented sector. Proposals in the Scottish Housing Bill to introduce rent controls don't help despite proof from the Governments' own data showing this policy results in greater costs for tenants. The most recent statistics reveal that the Scottish Government's intervention in the PRS – through its Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) Scotland Act 2022 which introduced temporary rent controls – resulted in rents rising at a faster rate in two years than they had in the preceding 12. Between 2010 and 2022 average rent rises across Scotland for one, two, three and four-bedroom properties were up £138; £182; £232; and £523 respectively. In the following two years between 2022 and 2024 average rents increased by £130; £157; £230; and £333 for one, two, three and four-bedroom properties. In cash terms rents rose in two years at almost the same level that they did over the previous 12 years. These figures highlight just how destructive the Scottish Government's intervention into the PRS was between 2022 and 2024. A major outcome of this policy has been the freezing of property investment, falling housebuilding levels, with money intended to be invested in Scotland to build more properties being transferred to other parts of the UK. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If Ms McAllan is to make an impact on the staggering levels of housing need in Scotland, then she must embrace the private rented sector. She should not interfere in the market with rent controls and should be encouraging greater investment through policies which encourage growth over the long-term through support of the PRS. Mairi McAllan 'must embrace the private rented sector' (Picture: Jeff) The new Housing Secretary needs to put in place a ten-year plan which addresses Scotland's enormous housing problems. More housebuilding, more involvement and encouragement of the PRS, more social housing and a plan that ensures there are substantially more homes available in all markets in the future. With 250,000 people on the social housing waiting list, 10,000 children in temporary housing and a private rented sector which has been experiencing unprecedented demand there is an immediate need for clarity and action. Housing policy needs the involvement of all interested parties, and a strategy that looks beyond a single electoral cycle if the housing emergency is to be tackled.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Can I really be fined €6,900 for going to Spain without travel insurance?
I read a story that said Spain could start issuing big fines of up to €6,900 to British holidaymakers if they cannot produce proof of travel insurance covering medical costs. When I tried to discover if this was true, I hit a brick wall. I thought that a GHIC covered me in Spain and getting travel insurance for extra medical costs was up to me. Could I really be fined when I go on holiday? Jane Denton, of This is Money, replies: In recent weeks, reports have been published suggesting Britons could be fined up to €6,900, or around £5,900, if they go to Spain and are unable to prove they have adequate travel insurance covering medical costs. The reports suggest Britons must have travel insurance that stands to cover all medical costs for the duration of their stay in Spain, or risk a substantial fine. According to some of the articles, the insurance policy must meet certain criteria outlined by the Spanish Ministry of Health, such as covering medical emergencies, hospital stays and other essential services. Some of the media reports include a quote purporting to be from Spain's health minister, emphasising that this measure was designed to ensure that all visitors have the necessary financial resources to cover the costs of medical care, and avoid placing further strain on the country's healthcare system. This is Money has, like you, been working to figure out what is going on and whether the reports are correct. Response from Spain's Ministry of Health Last week, we contacted Spain's Ministry of Health and asked them whether Britons could be fined up to €6,900 if they travel to Spain and are found to be without travel insurance covering medical costs. On Tuesday, we received a response in Spanish, which translates as: 'According to our information, there are no regulations in place requiring British tourists to purchase private health travel insurance to enter Spain as tourists.' However, the department said it still 'highly recommended' that visitors to Spain have travel insurance that includes medical cover, especially if their stay is longer than 90 days or the individual does not have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). I also contacted Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office about the matter. It said it was for the Spanish authorities to answer questions on the terms they set for people entering Spain. The Government department said it kept its travel advice under constant review 'to ensure it reflects the latest updated information for British nationals travelling abroad.' The FCDO noted that it had longstanding advice that British nationals should purchase appropriate insurance before travelling abroad. The FCDO website does state that Britons could be asked to show proof of their travel insurance at the Spanish border. There is no mention of a potential fine at present. What should British tourists do? To date, it has not been confirmed by authorities in Spain or Britain that you could be fined if you are found to be travelling to Spain without adequate travel insurance. This could change. However, it is always sensible to take out travel insurance providing appropriate medical cover before you travel abroad. The risks of not taking out travel insurance can be extremely serious if things go wrong. Use comparison sites and do your research to ensure you get an appropriate level of cover. The cheapest policies may not be the most appropriate, particularly when it comes to providing adequate cover in case of a medical emergency overseas. If you are going to Spain, read the FCDO's online travel advice for Spain. This covers topics like entry requirements, insurance advice and health insurance cards. The FCDO also has a list of medical providers in Spain where some staff will speak English. If you are in Spain and need to access state healthcare in Spain, you will need a valid EHIC or GHIC card. A GHIC or EHIC covers state healthcare. It does not provide private healthcare cover. With a GHIC or EHIC card, you can get medically necessary treatment in Spain on the same basis as a Spanish citizen. This means that you will get healthcare services for free or at a reduced cost. If you travel to Spain or elsewhere in Europe without a valid EHIC or GHIC, you may need to pay in full for the state treatment or care you receive. A GHIC or EHIC card is not a replacement for travel insurance. The cards do not cover everything, such as mountain rescue or being flown back to Britain via a medical repatriation. The GHIC has replaced the existing EHIC card. If you have an existing EHIC you can continue to use it until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you will need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. You can apply for a new card up to nine months before your current card expires. A UK GHIC is free and lasts for up to five years. You can apply for your new card through the NHS website. Avoid using unofficial websites as they may charge you a fee to apply. Britons also need to be careful about their passport when entering Spain. Britons entering Spain must have a passport date of issue less than 10 years before the date you arrive. Your passport also needs to have an expiry date at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. The expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Why is Ryanair charging in pounds for items on a flight when the menu says euros? CRANE ON THE CASE
My family and I make regular trips from Leeds Bradford airport to Málaga-Costa del Sol as we have a holiday home in Spain. We often fly with Ryanair and sometimes buy food, drinks and duty free items from the catalogue on the plane. We used to pay in cash, but since 2022 on-board purchases have been card only. The menu and catalogue on the flights are priced in euros, so we pay with our Spanish bank account which is euro-denominated. Recently, though, I checked my bank account and realised I was paying more than I thought for these items. For example, a bottle of water cost €4.10 instead of €3.60 and two cartons of cigarettes cost €118.98 and not €110. What is happening? E.V, Leeds Helen Crane of This is Money replies: As the school holidays descend and families prepare to jet off to sunnier climes, it's crucial to watch out for cheeky card charges. It is a rule of thumb that, when abroad, you should opt to pay in the local currency. That means you get the regular Visa or Mastercard exchange rate. But if you pay in GBP, the merchant can apply an inferior, local exchange rate, which can be much more expensive. This is known as dynamic currency conversion. But how does it work on a plane, which might fly across several countries? Airlines usually offer payment in the country the flight originates from as the default. So if you were flying from Malaga to Leeds, you'd expect to be charged in euros, and vice versa in pounds. You therefore always paid using your Spanish bank account on return flights with Ryanair. > Best bank accounts to get fee-free spending abroad As an Irish firm, Ryanair lists the prices on its menus in euros. That is fair enough, as long as parched passengers pay for their drinks in euros, too - or willingly face any charges associated with paying in another currency. But as you have discovered, that isn't always the case. The reason it seems you have been overcharged for some of your purchases is because you were actually charged in pounds, without your knowledge, on flights from Spain to the UK where the 'local' currency was euros. You would, for example, pay for a bottle of water that you thought was €3.60, assuming this was in euros - but it would actually be in pounds, and on your bank statement that would become €4.10. You say the card is handed over to the flight attendant, rather than them bringing the machine to you, so you can't see what is on the screen. As you weren't paying in the 'local' currency, you were also subject to Ryanair's inferior exchange rate which ramped up the price further. What's worse, your bank would then charge you to convert the GBP payment back to euros. These are small amounts, but as you travel so regularly it has added up. Since 2022 when you had to stop paying in cash, you think you might have overpaid hundreds, as you regularly buy drinks and snacks for your grandchildren on flights, as well as stocking up on duty free items. Since you cottoned on to this payments palaver, you have complained to Ryanair, and also asked cabin crew to explain the rules. Neither has been able to give you a straight answer. You were told in response to your formal complaint that 'By default, the currency for flights to the UK is GBP, not EUR. Euro has to be specifically chosen to be used.' However, it is not clear whether this is the 'local' currency for the flight, or simply the default currency for the card payment machine. A cabin crew member told you that, on flights either to or from the UK, the card machine was set to GBP as the default and that cabin crew needed to ask customers what currency they wanted to pay in. In your experience, this has not happened. When I contacted Ryanair, it said: 'All Ryanair passengers regardless of their destination can choose to pay in GBP, EUR or Polish zloty for inflight purchases.' Ryanair also disputed the amounts you gave for the purchases, saying that you were charged €3.50 for a £3.26 bottle of water and €100 for £95 of cigarettes. This is different from the bank statements you showed me. Ryanair continued: 'Prices displayed in our inflight magazine are in EUR, as this is the base currency in Europe. If passengers choose to pay in GBP, the amount and currency is displayed on the payment device prior to payment. 'These passengers purchased items onboard in GBP. GBP payments are then sent to the passenger's bank. 'If a passenger's bank account is a EUR account, the bank will then convert the charge made in GBP back to EUR at their rate.' I asked exactly how passengers were informed about which currency their payment would be taken in, and what the 'local' currency was. Was this displayed on the card machine, and if not, should the cabin crew tell the passenger the currency they are paying in or does the passenger have to ask? Ryanair simply replied: 'At the time of purchase passengers are informed of the amount and currency.' It also pointed me to page 23 of its inflight magazine, though this does not contain any information about currency other than to say that 'we monitor all prices and exchange rates, and these are subject to change.' I then asked a lawyer for their view on whether prices could be displayed in euros on a flight, but passengers then charged in GBP as the default currency. Jennifer Obaseki, founder of London-based Obaseki Solicitors, said: 'Legally, this is permissible - as long as the pricing and currency conversion are made clear and are not misleading. However, she added that: 'The moment a passenger is charged in a different currency than that advertised, transparency becomes paramount.' Obaseki said the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations of 2008 require retailers to provide 'accurate and complete' pricing information and ensure any currency conversions or added charges are 'clearly communicated prior to sale'. 'In essence, if goods are priced in euros but charged in pounds, the exchange rate and final GBP amount must be disclosed before the transaction is completed,' she said. As a general rule of thumb, passengers should assume that the 'local' currency on a flight is the one of the country you departed from - but crucially, also ask what currency they are being charged in. If it isn't the local one, ask to change to that - especially if you have a card which is denominated in the local currency. If you do like to buy things on flights, it is also worth checking that your payment card will be accepted. Flyers on various airlines say they have been told they can't use e-money cards such as Revolut and Monzo cards in the air, and some airlines will only accept them if they are used via an Apple or Google wallet. Tui, for example, does not accept Monzo. In addition, many airlines don't accept pre-paid cards, such as a Post Office travel money card. This is because transactions made in the air are processed after the flight lands. Flyers could pay using empty cards, and in the case of cash cards that can't go overdrawn the airline might never recoup the money.
