In an unprecedented tourism bubble, Spaniards are not able to enjoy their own beaches as hotel and apartment prices continue to rise, hitting locals hard, according to Reuters.
Statistics show that the number of domestic tourists at Spain’s 25 best beaches fell by 800,000 last year, while foreign tourists increased by 1.94 million. The trend is continuing, and the world’s second most visited country (France is first) could see around 100 million visitors this year.
Wendy Davila, 26, told Reuters that prices have skyrocketed and the entire Spanish coast is very expensive. She has canceled an exorbitantly expensive trip to Cadiz on the southern coast of Spain, going to Burgos inland instead. The young woman said that now she goes on vacation where she can afford to go, not where she wants to go. Davila recalls with nostalgia the family holidays she spent as a child at the seaside.
Spain, whose population is half the size of the annual tourist influx, relies heavily on tourism for its economy; it accounts for more than 13% of GDP. But protests are growing louder. Mass tourism has not only created housing shortages for locals, but has also driven Spaniards from their favorite vacation spots. Hotel prices have risen by 23% in recent years, to an average of 136 euros per night per person.
Price monitoring company Tecnitasa has found that
rental prices for beachfront properties have risen by 20.3% since mid-2023, with everything booked in the first months of the year.
Foreign tourists spent an average of eight days on Spanish beaches, while locals spent only half that time.
Spain’s socialist government, keenly aware of growing resentment and inequality, has started encouraging foreign tourists to visit attractions in the country’s interior to avoid crowds in certain spots. Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu said in June that if Spain wants to remain among the top tourist destinations, it must prevent crowds in one place.
Spaniards have a strong tradition of taking family holidays during the hottest months of summer, but Airbnbs are now being used more than hotels, and beaches are being replaced by more affordable inland destinations.
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