Spanish tourist hotspot Malaga to ban horse-drawn carriages

The city of Malaga, in southern Spain, has decided to put an end to horse-drawn carriages for tourists due to animal welfare reasons.

Animal rights activists criticise horse-drawn carriages for tourists because of the strain they put on the animals, especially during the searing summer heat. The city's horse-drawn carriage drivers oppose this measure and have not wanted to comment.

Malaga city hall had announced in 2015 that it aimed to ban horse-drawn carriages from its streets by 2035, but it now wants to bring the ban forward to this year. Officials are in talks with the holders of the last 25 licenses to reach an agreement. Horse-drawn carriages will not totally disappear, they will still be allowed as part of festivals and traditions like Malaga's annual fair in August.