Spain has always been a beloved holiday spot for many, and Alicante stands out as a favourite, drawing crowds to its sun-soaked beaches, rich cultural heritage and vibrant nightlife.
Whether it's unwinding on Costa Blanca, delving into the city's historical landmarks, or immersing in its vibrant social life, Alicante is a year-round magnet for holidaymakers.
However, Alicante's bustling nightlife, one of its major attractions, is set to face new restrictions as authorities impose strict new measures to curb noise pollution.
With new curfews coming into force and licencing restrictions tightening, the changes come as part of a broader crackdown across Spain's most popular tourist destinations, including Malaga, Madrid and Seville.
It has been reported that bars, nightclubs and restaurants in Alicante's Old Town will soon have to close earlier, in what's being dubbed 'anti-tourist measures'.
Amid ongoing complaints about noise after hours, authorities have drawn out dedicated Acoustically Saturated Zones (ZAS) where the bulk of the noise pollution comes from, the Mirror reports.
Hospitality venues located on the city's popular Calle Castano and surrounding areas will now have to close by 12.30am, following a decision made by the city council on Tuesday.
These restrictions could be implemented as early as March, just in time for the summer season, reports the Irish Mirror.
The curfew will extend to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as during holidays, with nightclubs will be required to close their doors by 3am. According to The Olive Press, a popular ex-pat news source, hospitality venues with terraces must be cleared half-an-hour before closing time.
The measures also apply to 24-hour shops, who will also have to close their doors between 12.30 and 7am. Meanwhile, the granting of new licences nightclubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, karaoke bars and even bingo halls has been suspended.
Businesses selling bakery goods, take-away meals, newspapers or drinks will also be impacted by these restrictions. To ensure compliance, the Policia Local will run a special operation to make sure closing times are observed and bar terraces are cleared.
These stringent measures follow other crackdowns across Spanish tourist hotspots in response to the disruption caused by some tourists.
Costa del Sol capital Malaga has banned any new short-term holiday rentals in new measures introduced last month. The three-year ban - which will likely be extended beyond that - follows complaints in the city over rising housing costs and noise levels.
Madrid, meanwhile, has banned tourist apartments in its historic centre, while the popular city of Seville has put in place a cap of no more than 10% of residential properties to be rented out to non-residents.
Last year saw a wave of protests across Spain against growing numbers of tourists, particularly in Barcelona and the Balearic and Canary islands.
Last year, 94 million international tourists visited Spain - the highest number since records began. Reports estimate that around 5 million visit Alicante each year, a figure which was estimated in 2023 to bring in €6.8billion to the local economy.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·