Spain Eyes Record-Breaking Tourist Numbers Amid Growing Local Discontent

The number of foreign tourists visiting Spain surged by 13% in the first half of 2024, potentially leading to another record year. While the influx boosts economic growth, it has led to rising housing costs and local protests against tourism's impact on popular destinations.

The number of foreign tourists in Spain leaped by 13% during the first half of 2024, forecasting another record-breaking year for visitor numbers despite mounting local discontent regarding tourism's impact. Spain's data agency, INE, reported Friday that 42.5 million international visitors arrived from January to June, with a 12% spike recorded for June alone, reaching 9 million arrivals as the busy summer season commenced.

2024 is on track to surpass last year's peak of 85 million tourists, firmly positioning Spain as the second most visited country globally after France. Yet, this influx has stirred unease among Spaniards in hotspots like Mallorca, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, leading to protests over the rising housing costs attributed to increased tourist demand.

In early July, anti-tourism activists in Barcelona made headlines by using water pistols to ward off foreign visitors, chanting 'tourists go home.' This protest underscored the challenges faced by the government to balance tourism with local interests. Tourists' spending has driven economic growth, with June alone seeing a 17% rise to €12.3 billion. However, affordable housing shortages have been linked to the rise in holiday lets on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, as data indicated a 30% increase in tourists staying in rented apartments.

(With inputs from agencies.)