Managing tourist apartments in Málaga means operating in a high-demand market under increasingly strict rules. In Andalusia, tourist dwellings are entered in the RTA and the regional Decree 31/2024 has tightened the requirements, while several city councils restrict new registrations in saturated areas.
Once you are up and running, the key to a profitable operation is automation: online check-in, automatic guest registration and keyless entry. This guide shows you how to manage your accommodation in Málaga while staying compliant and saving hours every week.
Why managing in Málaga is more demanding
A property manager in Málaga has to keep an eye on several things at once:
- RTA code: the VFT/MA-XXXXX number must appear in every Airbnb, Booking and Vrbo listing.
- Decree 31/2024: minimum habitability requirements and the possibility for the owners' association to limit or ban the activity.
- Saturated areas: the city council may suspend new registrations in central and other districts.
- Guest registration: submission of the form to SES.Hospedajes from the first booking.
With high turnover and tight oversight, automating check-in and guest registration isn't a luxury — it's the only way to manage several units without mistakes or missed deadlines.
Automatic check-in in Málaga, step by step
Automatic check-in means the guest completes the whole arrival process online, from their phone, before reaching the property. Here's how it works with Gotocheck in a Málaga apartment:
After booking, they automatically get a link by email or WhatsApp in their language. No app to install.
The system reads the ID, passport or residence card with OCR and captures the guest data required by RD 933/2021. The guest signs digitally.
Gotocheck reports the guest form automatically to the national SES.Hospedajes system, within the legal deadline and without you copying anything.
During check-in you can automatically charge any applicable tourist tax and, if you wish, a deposit or extras via secure online payment.
Once check-in is completed and verified, the guest receives the smart-lock code or entry instructions. Self check-in 24/7, no waiting and no trips.
Automate your tourist apartments in Málaga
Online check-in, SES.Hospedajes, tourist tax and virtual keys on a single platform.
Try 15 days free →Guest registration in Málaga: SES.Hospedajes
Since December 2024, Royal Decree 933/2021 requires every accommodation in Spain to report the guest registration form to the national SES.Hospedajes system of the Ministry of the Interior. In Andalusia there is no additional regional police registry, so the obligation is met with a single submission to SES.Hospedajes.
Doing it by hand — asking the guest for the document, copying the data into the portal and submitting it on time — is tedious and error-prone. With digital check-in, the data is captured once and sent automatically within the legal deadline.
Virtual keys and self check-in
In a city with as much turnover as Málaga, handing over keys in person to every guest is unworkable. Virtual keys and smart locks enable autonomous entry:
- Unique access codes per booking that expire at the end of the stay.
- The code is delivered only when check-in is complete and verified.
- No trips, no waiting and no risk of lost key copies.
What Gotocheck automates in your Málaga apartments
Guest data and documents captured with OCR, in their language, before arrival.
Automatic on-time submission of the guest form, with no manual data entry.
Automatic calculation and charging based on guests and nights.
Per-booking access codes for autonomous 24/7 entry.
Reminders and welcome messages by email and WhatsApp.
Integration with Airbnb, Booking, Vrbo and your channel manager.
Is there a tourist tax in Málaga?
For now, Andalusia does not apply a regional tourist tax, so Málaga does not charge this tax on stays. It is a competitive advantage over destinations such as Barcelona or the Balearic Islands.
However, introducing a tourist tax in Andalusian municipalities is debated periodically. A charging system built into check-in would let you pass it on automatically if it were ever approved, without changing your operation.
Frequently asked questions about tourist management in Málaga
Is automatic check-in legal in Málaga?
Yes, it is completely legal and it actually makes compliance easier. The guest completes their details online before arrival and the system sends them automatically to SES.Hospedajes within the legal deadline.
Where are guests registered for a tourist apartment in Málaga?
In the national SES.Hospedajes system of the Ministry of the Interior, mandatory since December 2024 under RD 933/2021. Andalusia has no additional regional police registry.
Is there a tourist tax in Málaga?
No. Andalusia does not currently apply a regional tourist tax, so Málaga does not charge it. It is an open debate — keep an eye on possible changes.
Do I need a licence to manage a tourist apartment in Málaga?
You must register the dwelling in the RTA (Andalusian Tourism Register) and obtain the VFT/MA-XXXXX code. Decree 31/2024 sets minimum requirements and several councils have restricted new registrations in saturated areas.
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Do you manage tourist apartments in Málaga?
Gotocheck automates check-in, guest registration, the tourist tax and keys so you stay compliant without spending time on it.