The numbers are in, Spain has a record breaking tourist season

That’s an explosion of tourism in Spain this year— mostly in areas on the Mediterranean with most visitors coming from colder climates. The end of the pandemic, the rise of remote work and the influence of social media all seem to have put the numbers into the stratosphere.

No wonder the locals in Barcelona were unloading water pistols on tourists… Soon you might need to build desalination plants to convert sea water to tap water just like we’ve had to do in Southern California!

Soon you might need to build desalination plants to convert sea water to tap water just like we’ve had to do in Southern California!

Well we are already building them near Barcelona due to the ongoing drought, but they are still years off. Thankfully in Barcelona we some good rain recently (including today).

Facinating. The July 2019 number was about 10 million. So it's a 10% increase over pre pandemic.

That explains why the second most common language in Budapest this summer, after Hungarian, is Spanish. They escaped!

And since Europe as a whole is only at or very slightly above pre pandemic levels, that should mean that there are a lot of destinations where the numbers are still below pre pandemic levels, making for good trips.

Are the spending numbers adjusted for inflation?

Nick, it did read like a puff piece. But if you are careful not to over interpret it, It’s still interesting. I am always suspicious when growth numbers dont account for pre-pandemic norms or a historic high. Then, and this article did do it, it’s not about the national average in many instances it’s about a small market, like Barcelona. Did things change that much from 2019 to justify the attitude towards tourism. Looks like the answer might be yes. In Europe as a whole? Probably the answer is no.

For the money spent, without a statement to the contrary I will assume that the numbers arent adjusted for inflation otherwise it would have been a bigger brag to mention it. But thats just my guess. Inflation in Spain was between 3 and 4 percent last year which pretty much wipes out the gain in income. Thinking that there are more, but cheaper, tourists sort of fits a narrative, but that would be a wild guess too. One thing these articles do it to inform you to what they dont tell you so you can go looking if you are interested. Thats good.

But unquestionably Spain is doing better than many places. My hometown for instance. Good for them.

@Mr É: You're right in noting the significant increase in tourism since the pre-pandemic era. The data shows that Spain welcomed nearly 11 million international tourists in July 2024, which is indeed around a 10% increase from July 2019. This suggests that Spain's tourism industry has not only recovered but has also grown beyond pre-pandemic levels. As for your observation about Spanish speakers in Budapest, I also noticed the same in Stockholm back in August, I guess in Spain we are all trying to escape the heat lol!

Regarding your question about spending numbers being adjusted for inflation, the article doesn’t explicitly state whether the figures are inflation-adjusted. Given that Spain's inflation rate was between 3-4% last year, it’s possible that the increase in tourist spending partly reflects higher prices. However, the data also indicates a 4.3% rise in average spending per traveler and a 2.1% increase in daily expenditure, which could suggest a combination of inflation and genuine growth in spending, perhaps driven by a mix of both higher prices and increased tourist activity.

Even though tourism is undoubtedly driving economic growth in Spain, it’s important to question whether these benefits are being distributed equitably among local communities that are being most impacted by overtourism. While certain regions and sectors may see a financial boost, the impact on local residents, such as rising living costs, housing shortages due to the demand for short-term rentals, and the strain on public infrastructure, may not be so positive. It would be valuable to see data that breaks down how the economic gains from tourism are actually reaching different segments of the population, particularly those in the most affected areas.

Even though tourism is undoubtedly driving economic growth in Spain,
it’s important to question whether these benefits are being
distributed equitably among local communities that are being most
impacted by overtourism. While certain regions and sectors may see a
financial boost, the impact on local residents, such as rising living
costs, housing shortages due to the demand for short-term rentals, and
the strain on public infrastructure, may not be so positive. It would
be valuable to see data that breaks down how the economic gains from
tourism are actually reaching different segments of the population,
particularly those in the most affected areas.

Worthy questions, but reaching any conclusions with no data is a big jump. A 10% increase over 5 years is "real" not sure if it is spectacular though. Might be.

If accommodations for tourists were running at 80% occupancy in 2019, then without building anything new they could be running at 88% today. So no idea how that has affected local housing.

Blaming short term rentals without an understanding of the impact in real numbers and without an understanding of real social consequence (good and bad) is just idiology and goes someplace that the forum does not allow. Who owns them? Where does the money go? How many locals really want to live in a tourist zone? And 500 more questions.

Equity? I am not even sure what the means in this context. And for me to begin to comment on it goes to a place not allowed by the forum.

But yes, it would be facinating to see the numbers.

Well this came up today too, might be interesting - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spains-crackdown-holiday-rentals-bodes-well-luxury-hotels-2024-09-03/

Spain has now become the leading market in Europe for hotel investment, particularly in upscale and luxury segments, with significant growth in the conversion of old hotels into high-end properties.

Emerging Luxury Market: The increase in both average spending per traveler and daily expenditure suggests that Spain is increasingly attracting a higher-spending demographic.

Maybe, but 4.3% is really not that much higher than general inflation (~3%) and the per person spending is less than inflation. Travel costs may have increased even more than general inflation, in many places, increased restaurant prices have far outstripped inflation, and I have noticed hotel prices (purely anecdotal) running me 5-10% more my last couple trips (could also be my choice of lodging). Edit: with some quick looking, lodging and restaurant prices are up 5% over the last year, so while people are spending more, they are opting for less volume or quality to offset price increases, potentially.

But in that vein, why not raise prices in the face of an overabundance of tourists? Basic supply and demand

With global warming it could be that warm Spain will become too hot and the northerner tourists can enjoy their own cities. The Baltic could become a new destination. Spain, Italy. Greece, Croatia could be supplanted by North Euro and Baltic areas.
But that is then and this is now.

So it looks like the plague of 'over tourism', is not solely the fault of North Americans.

Appears UK and other EU countries are responsible for significant portions of the increase.

Is the increase in spending due to higher prices ( inflation) or more affluent visitors buying more upscale stuff?

Americans tend to overstate their importance in tourism. We matter, but we aren't the driving force.

I have to admit I stopped by and visited all three of Spain's top destinations last month (August 2024), but I spent the most time and money in Castilla.

When I lived, worked, and went to school in Spain back in the 1980's, the country was still a bit off the track of high-volume tourism.
It is great that Spain is now discovered by the world to be the fantastic destination that it is, but for me the historic locations will always take priority over the beaches. I am happy that the economy is strengthening, however, because that is what tourism dollars should do.

Gracias por la información!

When I lived, worked, and went to school in Spain back in the 1980's, the country was still a bit off the track of high-volume tourism.

You sure about that? Granted I was quite young in the 80's, but that's not how I remember it. The package holiday industry started in the 70's but exploded in the 80's when it became affordable to the working class in northern Europe to visit Spain. Long before Greece, Turkey, Croatia or Bulgaria had any significant tourism at the level they have now. Coastal Spain was completely altered by largely unfettered development as a result.

for me the historic locations will always take priority over the beaches

You're in a pretty small minority there I think.

There were no "package holidays" to Valladolid, or Leon, or Burgos, or Santiago de Compostela, or many other cities in the northern part of Spain where I was in 1981. I was younger as well, but already quite well traveled.

I saw very, very few tourists--thank goodness--that is how I improved my Spanish! I was always interested in history--one of my university papers I wrote (en español, por supuesto) was about the Celtíberos. I also lived with a Spanish family for a while, so I really learned first hand in-depth about all the cultural issues. Yes, I also dated Spanish men.

Of course I traveled all over the country, during Winter, Spring, Summer, etc. I find going to the touristy beach places like Mallorca and Menorca in the cold means I can see more of the historic sights in peace.

I also worked at a huge travel expo called FITUR in 1984--Spain was just starting to try to attract travelers from Asia, especially China.

Yes, the country was VERY different in those days--still coming out of the Franco era, many political skirmishes, lots of unemployment. There was the Golpe (coup attempt) in 1981, and the non-stop ETA violence. We had only three television channels, and the FM radio was just starting!

Of course the British and Spanish have an intertwined history for centuries, if not millennia, but it is quite sad to think that the only reason many folks travel to Spain is just for a beach break. However, as I stated, I know that tourism dollars are appreciated. Now Spain just has to decide how they are going to manage all of these increased visitors!

So it looks like the plague of 'over tourism', is not solely the fault of North Americans. Appears UK and other EU countries are responsible for significant portions of the increase.

Usually the US ranks way down there in the list, sixth in the list I saw, even the tiny Netherlands sent more people to Spain than the US.

But what is absent, is the article only comments on International visitors, not including the effect of Spanish tourists in Spain, which may outnumber even the Brits, especially in places like the Canaries and the Balearic Islands.

Is the increase in spending due to higher prices ( inflation) or more affluent visitors buying more upscale stuff?

I commented above the while spending was up 4.3% overall, Hotel and Restaurant prices are up ~5%, so I would say mostly just inflation, but since numbers of tourists are up, people are likely going cheaper.

“ so I would say mostly just inflation, but since numbers of tourists are up, people are likely going cheaper.”

A similar report was published for the Netherlands yesterday and this was the conclusion; more tourists compared to 2019, but if you correct the money they spend for inflation, they spend less.

Here's the official source of the data that the article referenced - https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/es/categoria.htm?c=Estadistica_P&cid=1254735576863

But what is absent, is the article only comments on International visitors, not including the effect of Spanish tourists in Spain, which may outnumber even the Brits, especially in places like the Canaries and the Balearic Islands.

Regarding domestic tourism in Spain, the INE also conducted a survey this year - https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/es/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736176990&menu=ultiDatos&idp=1254735576863

Trips made by the population residing in Spain - Quarter 1/2024
Number of trips 40,555,269
Average trip duration (nights) 3.51
Total expenditure (thousands of euros) 11,678,624
Average spending per person (euros) 287.97
Average daily expenditure (euros) 82.14

Domestic tourism recorded over 40.5 million trips in Q1 2024, but international tourism for the first seven months of 2024 was slightly greater, with 53.37 million international tourists visiting Spain. This suggests that Spain's tourism industry is reliant on both international visitors and domestic tourism.

Domestic tourists spent an average of €287.97 per trip and €82.14 per day, while international tourists in July spent an average of €1,432 per trip and €195 per day. Domestic tourists also had an average trip duration of 3.51 nights, while international tourists stayed 4 to 7 nights on average. We see that international tourists contribute significantly more per visit in terms of spending, likely because international visitors stay longer and tend to spend more on accommodations, dining, and experiences. While domestic tourism is growing and contributing around €11.68 billion in total expenditure in Q1, international tourism dwarfs this figure, having surpassed €71 billion in the first seven months of 2024. As Mr E mentioned above, you will also find an awful lot Spanish tourists north of the Alps these days, mainly due to the dangerously hot conditions in Spain recently.

There were no "package holidays" to Valladolid, or Leon, or Burgos, or Santiago de Compostela, or many other cities in the northern part of Spain where I was in 1981.

Ah ok. When you said "Spain" you meant some cities in northern Spain.

it is quite sad to think that the only reason many folks travel to Spain is just for a beach break.

Right. What I assume you meant was "I think it is" rather than "it is". I've never thought of it that way. Cultural differences give a somewhat different perspective I suppose. Millions of British, German, Dutch, Scandinavian and Spanish folks might disagree with your view on that.

Yes, I am VERY happy to see Spain (and hopefully also Portugal) do well, but I will not travel there for the beaches. (I would go to Spain just for a flamenco workshop, however!). I love the cathedrals and castles, the Moorish architecture, the countryside and the evening paseos, the passion, the tradition of honor, the art (Velázquez, Goya, Picasso) and literature (El Cantar de mio Cid), and especially the sound of "puro Castellano" in my ears. Spain is not just a vacation destination for me--it is a homecoming.

The power and the history of the Iberian peninsula is long and strong.

We are off to Mexico in early Spring, and then to Brazil and Argentina in the early Summer. Yes, we will stop in those countries at some of the best beaches in the world, but we will also be taking in all of the history and culture (jarabe! samba! tango!).

The wonderful thing is that the Spanish and Portuguese languages continue and prosper, while the Spanish heritage is enriched by the new world diversity. Estoy orgullosa de mi herencia hispana! Viva España!

I'm sure you'll understand how many people do visit Spain for the beaches and don't have the slightest bit of interest in all of the things that you talk about. Calling it "sad" came across as snobbery, to me anyway. It's those folks that drive Spain's tourist industry for the most part. Like I said, I appreciate how UK vs US cultural differences can give one a different perspective.

The memories I created in Ibiza in the 90's or in Barcelona in the 2000's are every bit as valid as the memories you have from your time in Spain. Rather than Goya or Picasso, my memories are of little backstreet bars / clubs in Ibiza Town, packed solid with shirtless gay boys dancing to house from NYC and Chicago; not enough oxygen for the flame from your lighter to burn, even if you could get your sweat-soaked cigarette to light. Watching the sun go down from Cafe del Mar, just as you're coming up. Sodom and Gomorrah and the last days of Rome all rolled into one, with a generous dusting of gak, at Pike's while Tony was still with us. Not sad in the slightest. Quite the opposite. Joyous.

Apologies Carlos. We could have a whole 'nother discussion about what Spain means to different people in another thread I'm sure.