Selected beaches in Spain are set to introduce a mobile application that will allow visitors to reserve sunbeds and parasols in advance, as part of new efforts to better manage overcrowding during the busy holiday season.

The booking process will work similarly to seat reservations offered by airlines and cinemas, allowing beachgoers to choose their preferred location before arriving.

Real-Time Beach Information

The app will provide real-time information on available spaces, beach occupancy and accessibility for visitors with disabilities. Users will also be able to view the range of services and leisure activities available at participating beaches.

Additional features will allow tourists to order food, drinks and sunscreen directly to their sunbed, while the app will also display current sea temperatures.

All beaches participating in the initiative will be required to provide free Wi-Fi to support the digital service.

Part of Spain’s Overtourism Strategy

The technology is intended to help Spanish authorities better manage visitor numbers at popular beaches, an issue that has become increasingly important as many coastal destinations face overtourism during the summer months.

By controlling daily attendance, local authorities hope to improve beach maintenance, carry out cleaning more efficiently and monitor water quality more effectively.

Reservations May Become Mandatory

Under the proposed system, visitors who fail to secure a reservation may not be permitted to access participating beaches once their daily capacity has been reached.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort by destinations across Spain to balance tourism demand with environmental protection and improve the overall visitor experience while preserving the country’s most popular coastal areas.