The number of foreign tourists visiting Spain surged by 13% in the first half of 2024, setting the stage for a record-breaking year in tourism, despite growing concerns over the industry’s impact on local communities. The Spanish statistics office INE reports that 42.5 million foreign visitors arrived at the end of June, with a 12% increase to 9 million visitors in June alone, signalling the beginning of the busy summer season.
Following France in terms of international tourism, Spain is poised to break last year’s record of 85 million visitors, which was higher than pre-pandemic levels. On the other hand, locals in tourist hotspots like the Canary Islands, Mallorca, and Barcelona are on edge due to increasing housing costs brought on by the flood of visitors.
Early in July, protesters in Barcelona gained worldwide attention when they sprayed visitors with water pistols while shouting, “Tourists go home.”
June tourism expenditure in Spain reached 12.3 billion euros, up 17% year-on-year. This boosted economic development but also created difficulties for the government in balancing local needs with tourism. With a 30% increase in travellers opting for leased flats rather than hotels—which witnessed an 11% increase—the boom in holiday rentals on platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb has contributed to the surge in tourism.
