Nearly 41 million foreign tourists, a new record, are expected to visit Spain this summer, where the movement against overtourism is growing, according to forecasts published by the tourism ministry.
This percentage is 13% higher than in the summer of 2023 – when the previous record was set – the ministry said in a press release. Tourism revenue from foreign visitors is estimated to increase by 22%, up to 59 billion euros, the same source explains.
This confirms the “success of the Spanish tourism model”, said the Spanish Minister of Tourism, Jordi Herreu, during a press conference highlighting the sharp increase in tourism spending, “higher than the number of visitors “.
Spain attracts tourists
“The charm that Spain has for tourists is confirmed every month,” he continued.
The second largest tourist destination in the world after France, Spain welcomed 85.1 million foreign visitors last year, mostly British, French and German. A record number that, based on government forecasts, is expected to be surpassed this year.
Revenue rose 5.3%
According to the employer organization Exceltur, which released its own estimates today, the income of the tourism sector in Spain is expected to grow by 5.3% a year this summer and by 4.6% throughout 2024 compared to the year 2023.
If these predictions are confirmed, Spain’s “gross domestic tourism product” will “exceed €200 billion for the first time” this year, which “will bring the contribution of tourism to the Spanish economy to 13.2%,” reports said Exceltur.
Thousands protested against overtourism
These predictions come as protests in Spain against overtourism have increased in recent weeks, from the Balearic Islands to the Canary Islands and Barcelona, ​​​​where thousands of residents demonstrated again on Saturday targeting tourists and demanding its “limits”.
The protesters, pointing to the APE MPE, complained about noise pollution, pollution, congestion in the transport infrastructure and the increase in housing prices, which have risen in recent years, mainly due to the conversion of many apartments to rent to tourists.
This unrest has prompted many municipalities and regions across Spain to take measures to try to curb the problem of tourists, including Barcelona, ​​​​which announced on June 21 that it wants to end the -rent tourist apartments until 2029 to facilitate residents’ access to. housing.