Urgent calls for regulation of tourist-use residences in the Pyrenees region
Lleida’s Provincial Council, alongside municipal representatives, union groups such as the UGT and CCOO, and leaders from the hospitality sector, are set to meet this Thursday to discuss measures for governing residences used for tourism within Pyreneean towns. The discussions address a long-standing issue: some workers live in caravans or substandard housing as leases are not renewed to make way for tourist apartments. Juan Antonio Serrano, the mayor of Viella in Vall d’Aran, highlighted the challenge of securing affordable housing and attracting education and health professionals to the region, noting that many locals who want to work in the Pyrenees face housing constraints as well as service gaps in education and healthcare.
In this rural and mountainous setting, authorities are confronting population decline. The expansion of tourist accommodations has been linked to a push and pull between preserving local families and accommodating visitors. Since 2015, there has been a noticeable rise in tourist housing as municipalities shift from permanent residence use to short-term rentals, prompting debate about the environmental and social impact of such changes. Critics have condemned the use of people’s homes for commercial tourist purposes when the change of residential use is pursued on a large scale.
Many voices in the hospitality industry and several coastal municipal leaders question the approach. They argue that access to housing differs greatly from the situation faced in the Pyrenees, where for some towns animal-to-human survival dynamics are at play. Serrano underscored this disparity in an interview with a local newspaper, stressing that the regional housing crisis has different rhythms and pressures depending on the community.
In the broader context, Lleida’s leaders advocate for urgent planning policies to address these disparities. A photo caption accompanying local coverage notes that mayors and unions are pressing for rapid regulation of tourist apartments in the region. The provincial organization provides data showing a fourfold increase in tourist-use housing in Alt Pirineu since 2015, projecting an upsurge from about 1,298 units to roughly 4,719 by mid-2023. In 2020, attractions hosted in tourist apartments surpassed the capacity offered by other tourism sectors in Alt Pirineu and Aran, illustrating the scale of growth and the housing implications that accompany it.
Officials note that in Vall d’Aran, tourist apartments are currently capable of covering up to 80% of housing needs for seasonal workers. The vice president of the Lleida Provincial Council added that a significant share of the regional population is likely to remain in Alta Ribagorça and Pallars Sobirà, illustrating how housing availability can influence where people choose to live. Some communities have had to either purchase or lease entire hotel operations to meet demand, while authorities are exploring options to convert hotel stock and other facilities to new permanent housing in order to sustain the local workforce and economy. Serrano stressed that these shifts also affect the operation of tourist attractions and local businesses, which are sometimes forced to adapt to new residential uses.
Emergency measures
The manifesto’s signatories contend that the government decree issued last November could yield noticeable social benefits by rebalancing housing stock toward permanent use and providing a framework for regulating purchase and rental prices. They argue that the decree will support access to suitable and decent housing for residents seeking permanent residence, while enabling communities to respond to changing needs.
According to the signatories, the decree will empower local governments by giving them greater decision-making latitude. It is seen as a tool for municipalities to tailor urban planning to local conditions, calibrate the number and characteristics of tourist apartments, and ensure housing supply aligns with the real needs of residents. The overarching aim is to create a stable housing market that serves long-term residents while managing the pressures from seasonal tourism.