Toledo: the latest European city to limit tourism accommodation
Toledo: the youngest European city to restrict tourism accommodation
The proliferation of short-term rentals in the UNESCO-listed medieval town will end in favor of family settlement
The city of Toledo, a popular Spanish tourist destination, has chosen to do so limit the availability of short-term rental accommodation in the UNESCO-listed Old Town. The local government’s idea is to instead focus on diversifying tourism development and move away from shutting down the central area into a living museum.
With the proposed plan, the administration joins the ranks of other destinations on the Iberian Peninsula, such as Mallorca, Lanzarote and Portugal, which have announced plans to limit tourist flows in favor of better living conditions for local residents.
Bring more families than tourists
The old town of Toledo offers sights such as the Cathedral or the Alcazar, as well as a general atmosphere transports the visitor to the time of Cervantes and Don Quixote. All of this means that the capital of Castile-La Mancha is a popular getaway for many looking to experience the traditional Spanish way of life.
However, this has led to an increase in apartments and houses being rented out to tourists rather than locals, which has caused prices in the real estate market to rise. In addition, tourists cause overcrowding as they gather through the main thoroughfare – Comercio Street.
Tourist apartments will now be limited to 20% of the total property stock in the medieval town known as Casco in Spanish. Likewise, they are only allowed on the ground floor or first floor if there is a shop below.
However, the measure does not apply retrospectively, meaning it will affect the issuance of new short-term rental licenses. According to Spanish News Today in some districts of Toledo Accommodation establishments already exceed 20%which means that no new permits will be issued there.
In addition to Tourism Sustainability Plan, several lines of action were launched as an urban renewal plan for the Casco. There are rehabilitation works with new aid for homes and businesses so that “new families can live and those who are here don’t have to leave,” according to Toledo Mayor Milagros Tolón.
The food market is undergoing an important redevelopment project, carried out with European funds, as part of this plan to make the center more livable for local people. Another initiative is the implementation of fiber optic cables to allow residents and businesses to go about their jobs.