British tourists defy protesters as Spanish hotspots record massive growth

Spain’s tourism industry is surging, setting record highs even amidst local protests in popular tourist spots.

This growth has been driven largely by British tourists, Spain’s largest international visitor group.

However, new data reveals that while British tourists are flocking to regions like Andalusia in record numbers, they are turning away from the Balearic Islands, historically a British favourite, as protest movements gain momentum.

The latest tourism statistics from the National Statistics Institute (INE) show a remarkable increase in international arrivals, with 9.6 million tourists visiting Spain in September alone—up 9.1% from the previous year.

Their spending also climbed, reaching 12.7% more than last year at 12.6 billion euros.

British tourists were the largest contributors, spending 2.5 billion euros during September, a 9.3% increase, followed by German and French tourists.

The southern region of Andalusia recorded an especially strong performance, welcoming 1.4 million international visitors in September—a 10.3% year-on-year increase.

Spending in the region surged by 16.5%, reaching 1.9 billion euros.

On average, each visitor to Andalusia spent 175 euros per day, and overall spending per tourist rose to 1,320 euros, marking a 5.6% increase from last year.

The strong uptick in Andalusia’s tourism numbers reflects a broader trend of growth in Spanish tourism. From January to September, nearly 74 million international visitors arrived in the country, an impressive 12% increase from the same period in 2023.

Despite Spain’s overall tourism boom, the Balearic Islands saw a decline in British visitors in September. British tourist numbers fell as local protests against “over-tourism” and rising living costs gained attention.

The islands, which have long been a preferred destination for British travellers, have experienced a shift, with some UK visitors opting for other regions within Spain.

While the Balearics welcomed 2.5 million tourists in September—up by 2.4% compared to September 2023—the number of British visitors notably decreased, highlighting a shift in preferences among UK travellers.

Nonetheless, spending by international tourists in the Balearics still saw growth, reaching 2.7 billion euros, up 12.7% year-on-year.

With 73.9 million international visitors by September and year-to-date spending up by nearly 17%, Spain’s tourism sector is on track to break all previous records.

UK tourists remain the top spenders, with their total spending from January to September reaching nearly 14.7 million euros, followed by travelers from France and Germany.

French tourists, in particular, are driving spending increases, with a significant 26.1% rise in September alone.