Tourist licenses: the solution no one wants to implement

Published on May 25, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

Access to housing has become a nightmare for many. While prices rise, thousands of apartments are being used for tourist rentals. A sensible measure would be to withdraw those licenses in stressed areas and only allow them in depopulated regions. But of course, that would mean confronting powerful interests and an economic model that some defend without hesitation.

Aerial view of a dense city with a glowing red zone over central residential blocks, while a single blue key icon floats toward a sparse rural area. In the foreground, a large hand hesitates to pull a lever labeled with a gear and house symbol, surrounded by shadowy figures holding briefcases and smiling. Cinematic wide shot, photorealistic architectural visualization, dramatic contrast between crowded red urban core and empty blue outskirts, metallic lever mechanism, soft sunlight breaking through clouds, high detail textures, realistic shadow play, technical illustration style.

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A geolocation and big data system could map in real time the density of tourist accommodations and their impact on the local market. Platforms like Airbnb already use algorithms to set dynamic prices. The administration could implement software that automatically detects violations and limits licenses in areas with high housing pressure. It's not science fiction; it's applied logic.

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But we know that the party you support will never touch this issue. It would rather give a tourist license to its brother-in-law than guarantee you an affordable apartment. Meanwhile, you keep paying a rent that goes up every month and console yourself by thinking that tourism saves the economy. Sure, as if living in a cave were part of the local charm.