Madrid airport chaos: Homelessness and bedbugs tarnish image
Barajas Airport in Madrid, one of the most significant transportation hubs in Spain, is facing serious issues that could harm the country's image. Hundreds of homeless people camping out in Terminal 4 and the presence of bedbugs are problems that concern both regional authorities and the media.
The Spanish press regularly reports on approximately 500 homeless people staying in Terminal 4 of Barajas Airport. Additionally, the airport operator AENA has confirmed the presence of bedbugs in several parts of the terminal, which prompted them to hire an extermination company.
The disgraceful news has spread worldwide, further damaging our precious tourist image, commented the newspaper "ABC".
Reactions of authorities and residents
Isabel Diaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid, expressed concern that the situation at the airport could affect the perception of Spain by foreign tourists. Laura Martinez Cerro, responsible for tourism in the region, voiced similar concerns.
Madrid residents are also disturbed by the footage that the whole world could see online. They straightforwardly comment on social media: "This is disgraceful for us."
Ayuso called on the central government to take action, emphasizing that among the homeless, there may be asylum seekers. However, the government denies this, stating that the issue of homelessness is the responsibility of regional authorities.
The importance of tourism to Spain
In 2024, a record number of 94 million foreign tourists visited Spain. The tourism sector is crucial for the country’s economy, accounting for over 12% of GDP and employing more than 2.5 million people. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts that the share of tourism in Spain's GDP could increase to 17% by 2034.
Spain has surpassed France in terms of tourism income, reaching 126 billion euros (141 billion dollars). The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, emphasizes that the country is focusing on high-quality services, which attract more and more tourists.
