Britons holidaying in parts of Spain may now find it more difficult to get accommodation, as the government cracks down on tourist apartments such as Airbnbs.
Housing Minister Isabel Rodriguez announced that she would intervene as it is "harming the right to access housing".
It is believed that there will be a crackdown in particularly "stressed" areas of the country.
Rodriguez noted that there are more than 14,000 tourist flats in holiday hotspot Madrid.
There are more than 14,000 tourist flats in holiday hotspot Madrid
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"This is more than Operation Camp which is the largest ever public housing promotion and I don’t want the centre of Madrid to be a theme park, but to remain a city," she told Cadena Ser Radio.
She added that there are 300,000 tourist apartments in Spain, which is "much more than we can build".
Regions like Andalucia, Catalunya and the Canary Islands are already taking steps to curb over-tourism, but the housing minister also emphasised that the State can intervene too.
She said: "We will act in a precise and targeted way because tourist rentals in some regions are an opportunity for tourist dynamism but it has to be regulated according to that diversity."
This crackdown comes against the backdrop of a housing problem in Spain.
"There is a 1.5 million public housing shortfall, which if sorted would allow us to maintain more affordable rental and sale prices," Rodriguez added.
Locals across Spain - particularly in popular tourist destinations - have spoken out against tourists and the negative effects over-tourism has on locals and the country.
Anti-tourist feelings have been circulating in Spain, with locals claiming that holidaymakers are noisy and cause pollution.
What’s more, the huge demand for Airbnbs has driven the cost of rent up, which impacts local housing.
British holidaymakers recently arrived in Tenerife, Canary Islands, and were met with signs reading “Tourists go home" and “Too many guiris” (uncouth tourists).
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Tourists in Tenerife have recently received backlash from locals
PA IMAGESConsequently, Tenerife locals are calling for a tourist tax and stricter controls on tourism.
But some Britons are furious that their visits to Spain are not appreciated, claiming that it is their money that keeps the economy afloat.
One threatened to boycott Spain, stating: "I'll not go where I'm not wanted." Another said: "Leave and watch their economy collapse."
