Spain is poised for another record year in tourism, with the number of foreign visitors surging by 13% in the first half of 2024. Data released by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) on Friday revealed that 42.5 million international tourists arrived in the country between January and June. June itself saw a 12% increase in arrivals compared to the same month last year, with 9 million visitors touching down in Spain.
This impressive growth puts Spain on track to surpass its record-breaking 2023 visitor count of 85 million tourists, solidifying its position as the world’s second most visited country after France. However, this surge in tourism has sparked concerns among some residents in popular destinations like Mallorca, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.
Locals in these areas are increasingly vocal about the negative impacts of mass tourism, particularly rising housing costs and strain on local resources. Protests have erupted in some areas, with a recent incident in Barcelona seeing anti-tourism campaigners squirting water pistols at foreign visitors and chanting “tourists go home.”
The economic benefits of tourism are undeniable. Tourist spending in Spain reached €12.3 billion in June, a significant 17% increase compared to the same month in 2023. This growth contributes substantially to Spain’s economic recovery. However, the government faces a growing challenge: balancing the economic benefits of tourism with the well-being of local residents.
One area of concern is the impact of short-term rentals on housing availability. The data suggests a shift in accommodation preferences, with a 30% increase in tourists opting for rented apartments compared to the first half of 2023. Hotel stays, on the other hand, saw a more modest increase of 11%. This trend is linked to the rise of platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, which some argue exacerbates the lack of affordable housing in Spain.
