Spain is in “crisis” after a massive drop in tourist numbers due to “overcrowded” holiday hotspots.
During the pandemic, domestic tourism in Spain skyrocketed. But as locals catch up on lost time, they are returning to foreign holidays.
Figures show that the number of domestic tourists fell in the first seven months of 2024, compared to the same period a year before.
The number of domestic tourists went from 41.37 million between January to July in 2023 to 40.98 million in 2024 for the same period, according to Spanish daily El Pais.
The newspaper claimed that this is partly due to Spaniards opting for foreign holidays once more, now that the Covid-19 crisis is a distant memory.
But also to blame are rising prices in Spain, pushed up by demand from foreign visitors, as well as overcrowding at popular destinations by tourists from abroad.
The average price in restaurants and other eateries has risen so far this year by 18 percent, according to El Pais, compared to just a 13 percent rise in 2023.
The cost of accommodation, meanwhile, has risen 52 percent so far this year, compared to 45 percent in 2023. And finally, the heat waves that are becoming ever-more regular during summers in Spain also account for the change in habits.
Spaniards are ditching destinations such as Catalonia, the Canary Islands and Andalucia, and are opting instead for cooler climes in the north of the country.
On the other hand, international visits continue to go from strength to strength, with 47.67 million foreign tourists in Spain during the first seven months of 2023 compared to 53.38 in the same period in 2024.
In fact, 2023 was a record year for tourism in Spain, with 85.17 million foreign tourists and 72.43 million domestic tourists. The figures suggest that 2024 will set a new record for foreign tourist visits.
