Tourists urged to behave after Spanish holiday hotspot told Brits to 'go f****** home'

By Emily Wright, World News Reporter

One of Spain's most popular holiday destinations has launched a campaign. (Image: Getty)

Holidaymakers planning to visit the coastal Andalusian city of Málaga are being urged to keep themselves up to date on the city council's "Improve your stay in Málaga" campaign. This summer, authorities will ask tourists to "not be conspicuous" and "dress completely" as part of a campaign to reduce antisocial behaviour by tourists in the popular Spanish city.

Málaga City Council's Tourism Department has just relaunched its campaign with the aim of promoting better behaviour among visitors after it was first introduced this time last year. The campaign features a list of 10 rules which tourists should abide by, promoting tourism that respects coexistence with locals. It tackles issues such as noise pollution, dress code, cleanliness and responsible use of scooters and bicycles.   

The campaign encourages visitors to 'Keep the City Clean', by using rubbish bins and restrooms, as well as urging the care of heritage, gardens, and public furniture. (Image: Getty)

It encourages visitors to 'Keep the City Clean', by using rubbish bins and restrooms, as well as urging the care of heritage, gardens, and public furniture like park benches. Tourists are also reminded not to shout or play loud music and to respect quiet at night-time in residential areas, urging holidaymakers "do not be conspicuous". 

The rules also remind visitors to dress appropriately around the city and keep their tops on. "Dress completely," as they put it. For example, going topless or wearing beach attire in the city is not allowed, and is only permitted on the beach.

Another point the campaign covers is that "Sidewalks Are for Pedestrians," which refers to the municipal ordinance requiring scooters and bicycles to circulate only in legally designated spaces.

The campaign has been displayed on billboards across the city, on social media and on local buses.  

Last year, Málaga increased the fines for infractions such as littering, antisocial behaviour and making too much noise up to €750 (£651). 

Málaga residents also took part in several protests against mass tourism last year, claiming they were being priced out of their own neighbourhoods due to short-term tourist rentals, noise, as well as the antisocial behaviour of certain types of tourists. There was also an incident last year in which locals plastered the city with anti-tourism stickers with slogans such as: “This used to be my home”, “go f****** home”, “stinking of tourist” and “this used to be the city centre”.

The issue in Malaga reflects the wider problems with mass tourism being felt across much of Spain, particularly in Barcelona, the Balearic and Canary Islands, San Sebastián and Seville. Protests have continued into this year, with the Foreign Office reminding tourists to be mindful of the "risk of unrest or violence" during their upcoming holidays.

In April, locals in San Sebastian in northern Spain wrote a letter saying they did not want to host the 2030 World Cup. The letter argued the tournament “will only worsen living conditions in our city”. Locals asserted that between 2015 and 2024, the number of tourists to San Sebastián climbed to 78%, which has had a "brutal" effect on the city, with residents being pushed out of the city and public spaces being reshaped according to commercial interests.