The motorhome sector has seen a increase in Spain for the reason that Covid-19 pandemic, sparking points with overcrowding and a combat for area not solely at campsites but in addition within the streets of many cities and cities.
In 2024, motorhome and campervan registrations reached 6,459 models in Spain, 22.1 % greater than in 2023.
That is near the 6,851 registered in 2020 and simply over a thousand models wanting the 2019 business file.
And that’s to not point out all of the motorhome house owners that come down from the remainder of Europe.
Ralf Lüpkes, administrator of the Fb web page Spain Campers, informed the Huffington Put up that Spain welcomes hundreds of thousands of motorhomes yearly and that this development appears unstoppable.
What started in its place solution to journey and discover the nation has now turn into so widespread it causes overcrowding at camp websites, creates environmental points, and results in restrictions in lots of coastal cities.
The development can be contributing to a scarcity of parking areas for locals in regular residential streets the place residents are actually struggling to seek out spots wherein to park their automobiles.
That is notably problematic on Spain’s islands, in areas equivalent to Palma de Mallorca, Fuerteventura, Ibiza or Maspalomas in Gran Canaria.
And it is not solely holidaymakers who personal these motorhomes. Spain’s housing disaster has seen many Spaniards need to stay full-time of their autos as they can not afford the rents or costs of normal properties.
The truth is, the Metropolis Council of the Mallorcan capital introduced out laws in early 2025 which might see caravan and motorhome house owners fined for residing of their autos, solely to backtrack on the bylaw after realising they’d be largely concentrating on susceptible residents.
The shortage of campsite services in Spain to help each vacationers and residents who’ve fallen on arduous instances can be responsible for motorhomes taking on cities.
Spain is house to round 1,200 caravan websites, whereas there are almost 7,000 in France and nearly 5,000 in Germany.
The shortage of providers is most evident in coastal areas, particularly in Andalusia, Valencia, and Cantabria, but in addition in Madrid.
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In keeping with Lüpkes, there are greater than 200 campsites and pitches between Orihuela Costa and Málaga, however throughout the excessive season they’re fully full, with ready lists way back to January and February.
Some motorhome house owners are even resorting to parking on seashores, in vineyards, and even in protected areas, which in lots of locations is illegitimate. This in flip has created stress and disagreements with native residents and environmentalists.
Again in March of this 12 months residents in Fuengirola had been livid that camper vans had been utilizing public automobile parks for extended stays.
In some cities, restrictions and fines have already been imposed to curb unlawful parking, notably within the Alicante province.
Santa Pola and Elche have launched a number of restrictions and fines.
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In Moraira, the Metropolis Council has found unlawful dumping and garbage left in vineyards and streams, resulting in elevated fines and police controls.
In Villajoyosa, the native police consistently pursue unlawful tenting, however a scarcity of assets prevents full management.
In Águilas, the state of affairs is analogous, regardless of the indicators and guidelines, motorhomes proceed to occupy restricted areas, which has pressured the Metropolis Council to strengthen measures to maintain them out.
Lüpkes proposes putting in cellular parking meters and waste assortment factors in with charges of €9 or €10 per day.
José Manuel Jurado, president of the Spanish Affiliation of Caravan Trade and Commerce ( ASEICAR ), believes that areas ought to open up new websites, that are “constructive for the economic system of the cities” and for holidaymakers. Jurado believes that Galicia and Castilla y León, have executed a very good job lately with creating quite a few websites particularly for motorhomes and caravans.
