Spain logs record summer tourism as inflow draws protests

MADRID (AFP) — 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.

That figure was a 7.3% rise on the summer of 2023, the national statistics institute said.

Spain, the world’s second most popular tourist destination after France, received 10.9 million visitors in July and as many again in August, the institute said.

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 organized by the tourism promotion agency Turespana in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.

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 decentralized.

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.

Protesters complained about a strain on infrastructure, pollution and noise pollution.

They were also angered at rising rental prices due to many properties being rented out short-term to tourists at lucrative prices.

Several regions have reacted, with Barcelona saying it would end apartment rentals to tourists by 2029.

The socialist government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is working on creating a register of tourist and seasonal lodgings.

Heading toward annual record

The most common nationality of tourists in Spain over the summer was British, with 4.17 million U.K. visitors.

Next up were France at 3.75 million, Germany with 2.49 million and Italy with 1.35 million.

There was also a 13% increase in U.S. tourists to 850,000.

Spain hosted a total of 64.8 million tourists over the first eight months of the year — another record, according to the institute.

The most popular destinations they visited were Catalonia, the region that includes Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries.

With more visitors came more money and tourism revenues rose by 17.6% over the eight-month period to 86.7 billion euros ($95.9 billion).

That amounts to 187 euros spent per tourist, per day.

According to Exceltur, an organization created by the heads of Spain’s major tourism groups, 90 million tourists are expected over the course of 2024.

That would comfortably beat the previous record of 85.1 million people last year.

Tourism revenue is expected to surpass 200 billion euros, which would increase the sector’s contribution to the Spanish economy to 13.2%, according to Exceltur.

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By VALENTIN BONTEMPS Agence France-Presse