Holidaymakers may face a significant change on their holidays as the country is considering introducing earlier closing times for bars and restaurants as part of the government's intention to implement a 37.5 hour working week across the country, including the Canary Islands.
Spain’s Minister of Labour, Yolanda Diaz, has given her support for limiting hospitality sector hours, proposing that all establishments with bar, restaurants or café licences, must close by 1:00am, a move that has caused concern among many business owners who stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning.
Diaz said it is not "reasonable" for bars and restaurants to remain open into the early hours, and they will have to align their opening times with new labour regulations. "It is crazy to try to continue extending the hours until we don't know what time," she remarked.
However, the idea has faced pushback from key figures such as Madrid’s president, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, who strongly defended Spain’s vibrant nightlife. "Spain has the best nightlife in the world... and that also provides jobs," Ayuso said on social media.
The nightlife sector and its representatives have also voiced opposition. The leisure and nightlife association, Espana de Noche, warned that curtailing hours could harm Spain’s tourism industry, which thrives on its reputation for lively nightlife.
They cautioned that the proposal might provoke a backlash from tourists, particularly from the UK, who are drawn to Spain for its warm weather and vibrant after-dark culture.
Spain remains a top destination for British tourists, with nearly 15.5 million UK visitors recorded in the first 10 months of 2023. The new restrictions could affect local businesses and the tourism appeal that Spain and the islands have built over decades.
Meanwhile, British holidaymakers are also facing other changes in Spain, as Majorca is set to introduce new measures aimed at reducing tourist overcrowding next year. The island’s president, Magra Prohens, has indicated that "brave" decisions will be made to address the issue, potentially altering the future of tourism in the region.
For now, the proposed changes to Spain’s nightlife hours remain under debate, with many watching closely how it could reshape one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations.
