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Spain welcomed a record 21.8 million international visitors this summer, official data showed on Wednesday, an influx of tourism that has triggered some protests in the country.<\/p>\n
That figure was a 7.3 percent rise on the summer of 2023, the national statistics institute (INE) said.<\/p>\n
Spain, the world’s second most popular tourist destination after France, received 10.9 million visitors in July and as many again in August, INE said.<\/p>\n
The economic impact from tourism is “a great success for the well-being, social cohesion, and economic development of Spain”, Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu said at an event organised by the tourism promotion agency Turespana in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.<\/p>\n
In a nod to people unhappy with excess tourism, Hereu said Spain must “transform” its model for the sector, which needs to be diversified and decentralised.<\/p>\n
The deluge of tourists has not pleased all Spaniards, with protesters making their feelings known in recent months, notably in Barcelona, Malaga in Andalusia, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries.<\/p>\n
Protesters complained about a strain on infrastructure, pollution and noise pollution.<\/p>\n
They were also angered at rising rental prices due to many properties being let out short-term to tourists at lucrative prices.<\/p>\n
Several regions have reacted, with Barcelona saying it would end apartment rentals to tourists by 2029.<\/p>\n
The socialist government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is working on creating a register of tourist and seasonal lodgings.<\/p>\n
– Heading towards annual record –<\/p>\n
The most common nationality of tourists in Spain over the summer was British, with 4.17 million UK visitors.<\/p>\n
Next up were France (3.75 million), Germany (2.49 million) and Italy (1.35 million).<\/p>\n
There was also a 13 percent increase in US tourists to 850,000.<\/p>\n
Spain hosted a total of 64.8 million tourists over the first eight months of the year — another record, according to INE.<\/p>\n
The most popular destinations they visited were Catalonia, the region that includes Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries.<\/p>\n
With more visitors came more money and tourism revenues rose by 17.6 percent over the eight-month period to 86.7 billion euros ($95.9 billion).<\/p>\n
That amounts to 187 euros spent per tourist, per day.<\/p>\n
According to Exceltur, an organisation created by the heads of Spain’s major tourism groups, 90 million tourists are expected over the course of 2024.<\/p>\n
That would comfortably beat the previous record of 85.1 million people last year.<\/p>\n
Tourism revenue is expected to surpass 200 billion euros, which would increase the sector’s contribution to the Spanish economy to 13.2 percent, according to Exceltur.<\/p>\n
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