The move is not unique to San Sebastian; other European cities have also taken similar steps, according to EU Helpers. In 2018, the Spanish city of Palma de Mallorca became the first to outlaw Airbnb as part of efforts to control tourism.
San Sebastian attracts a lot of tourists because of the old Basque culture's enduring impact and the city's allure.
Eneko Goia, the mayor of San Sebastian, commented on the decision, stating that some parts of the city will be classified as "saturated" and pointing out that there is already a plentiful supply of vacation rentals for travelers.
Although the policy won't affect hotels that have already opened, increasing demand in the city center will probably lead to higher accommodation rates.
Etxebeste continues, explaining that it is possible for the plans to unintentionally worsen the overpopulation problem.
The city's high tourist-to-resident ratio—ten visitors for every 100 residents—has prompted action even if the large number of visitors greatly boosts the local economy.
A report on the state of the city called The General Urban Planning Plan states that the large number of visitors has had negative impacts, like a decline in the standard of local culture and food.
As the constant stream of visitors eventually began to wear on the locals, anti-tourism graffiti began to appear, with the slogan "go home" prominently displayed on bridges and other municipal icons.
As the authorities have emphasized, the new plan is not a total ban on tourists and is expected to greatly improve the quality of life for the city's citizens.
Rather, the recent action is consistent with the policy that has been in place since 2017, which strives to build a city that is genuine, provides a high standard of living for its citizens, and draws tourists.