Spain’s tourism sector is witnessing a boom in visitor numbers, despite local demonstrations against tourism in popular destinations.
The National Statistics Institute (INE) has recently disclosed that Spain greeted 9.6 million international tourists in September alone, indicating a 9.1% rise from the previous year.
This surge in tourist arrivals has been matched by a significant increase in expenditure, with visitors spending €12.6 billion – a 12.7% increase compared to 2023.
The trend appears set to persist, as Spain has already accommodated nearly 74 million international tourists in the first nine months of the year.
British holidaymakers – who form the largest group of international visitors to Spain – are contributing to this growth, albeit with a noticeable change in preferences.
While traditionally opting for the Balearic Islands, UK travellers are now gravitating towards other regions, particularly Andalusia, which received 1.4 million international visitors in September, marking a 10.3% annual increase.
Expenditure in Andalusia soared by 16.5%, hitting €1.9 billion. British tourists were the highest spenders overall, injecting €2.5 billion into the economy in September alone, a 9.3% increase from the previous year.
The average visitor to Andalusia spent €175 per day, with total spending per tourist rising to €1,320, representing a 5.6% increase from last year.
Despite a general tourism boom in Spain, the Balearic Islands saw a drop in British visitors during September, coinciding with escalating local protests against tourism and spiralling living costs in the area.
Yet, the islands still greeted 2.5 million tourists in September, marking a 2.4% rise compared to the same month in 2023.
Remarkably, expenditure by international tourists in the Balearics witnessed substantial growth, hitting €2.7 billion, a surge of 12.7% year-on-year.
The dip in British visitors to the Balearics underscores a shifting trend in UK traveller preferences, with many choosing different destinations within Spain.
This change demonstrates the intricate dynamics at work in Spain’s tourism sector, where overall growth persists despite localised challenges and fluctuating visitor patterns.
Spain’s tourism industry is on track for a record-breaking year, with UK tourists remaining the biggest spenders despite changes in preferences.
From January to September, Spain has already received 73.9 million international visitors, with total spending up by nearly 17%
British tourists have splashed out nearly €14.7million euros in the first nine months of the year, followed by tourists from France and Germany.
However, French tourists are playing a crucial role in driving spending increases with a significant 26.1% rise across September.
