Spaniards struggle to enjoy their own beaches in tourist deluge
Spain's top 25 Mediterranean and Atlantic coast destinations saw local tourism drop by 800,000 people last year whereas foreign visitors rose 1.94 million, according to previously unreported official data reviewed by analysis firm inAtlas.
The trend looks sure to continue as the world's second-most visited country - after France - anticipates a record 100 million foreign visitors this year.
"Prices have risen outrageously. The whole Spanish coast is very expensive," said Wendy Davila, 26. She cancelled an "exorbitant" trip with her boyfriend in Cadiz on the south coast for a cheaper visit to the inland city of Burgos, famed for its Gothic cathedral and the tomb of 11th century commander El Cid.
"Now you don't go on holiday wherever you want, but wherever you can," added Davila, who is nostalgic for childhood beach holidays in Alicante on the Mediterranean.
With a population of 48 million - half the number of foreign visitors each year - Spain relies heavily on tourism, which contributes more than 13% of GDP.
But protests are growing over housing shortages exacerbated by mass tourism - and could be exacerbated by the indignity for Spaniards being priced out of their favourite holidays.
Hotel prices have risen 23% in the past three years to an average of 136 euros ($159) a night, according to data company Mabrian.
Beachfront rentals have also climbed 20.3% since mid-2023, according to price monitoring firm Tecnitasa, with most of them booked out for the summer by the first quarter.
"It is becoming increasingly difficult for Spanish holidaymakers to afford beachfront tourism rentals," said Tecnitasa Group President Jose Maria Basanez.
Foreign tourists stayed an average of eight nights at top Spanish beaches last year, with locals only affording half that time and spending a quarter of the money, inAtlas said.
In fact resort hotels are modifying down their forecasts for this summer, even despite the foreign boom, partly because places where residents tend to take their holidays expect slower sales.
Spaniards also made near 400,000 fewer trips to the country's major cities in 2024 compared to the previous year, while foreign tourist visits there increased by almost 3 million.
Aware of the brewing discontent and disparities, Spain's socialist government is encouraging international tourists to explore inland attractions to address overcrowding and diversify.
"If we want to continue to be leaders in international tourism, we have to decentralise our destinations," Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu said at the launch of a first campaign to highlight Spain's lesser-known charms in June.
"We want Europeans and those from other continents to rethink their idea of the Spain they love and visit so much."
Spaniards have a strong tradition of escaping for family holidays in the hot summer months, but they are turning more to Airbnb rentals than hotels, and swapping Catalonia or the Balearic Islands for lesser-known destinations in Andalucia or Castille and Leon where prices are lower and mass tourism is yet to hit.
Last year, 1.7 million more Spaniards holidayed in generally more affordable inland areas, according to inAtlas.
In the mountain town of El Bosque for example, 100 km from the beaches of Cadiz on the Atlantic, the number of Spanish tourists increased by 22% last year.
"There may be a certain displacement effect," said Juan Pedro Aznar, professor and researcher at the Madrid-based Esade business school, noting Spaniards' lower purchasing power compared to British and German tourists.
For some Spaniards, it is best to avoid the summer crowds altogether. Nurse Maria de la Jara will stay in Madrid this summer, only going south to visit family in Cadiz once the busy season is over.
"I used to go to my family's house, but there are more and more foreign tourists in Cadiz and when a cruise ship arrives, the population doubles," said the 51-year-old.
"It's overwhelming."
($1 = 0.8561 euros)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
8 minutes ago
- Reuters
Econ World Podcast: 'Shadow Fed chair'
Follow on Apple or Spotify. Listen on the Reuters app. The world's most important central bank is at the center of a succession drama. Host Carmel Crimmins talks to Dan Burns, Americas economics editor, and Federal Reserve correspondent Howard Schneider about the possibility of a central banker in-waiting, and what that would mean for the global economy. *This podcast was updated to fix a missed question by Carmel at the 17:40 minute mark. Further Listening The dollar Independence Budget deficits
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Weather warning issued for major tourist hotspot sparks concern for Brit holidaymakers following storms
Holidaymakers in Spain are facing severe weather warnings after storms and torrential rainfall battered parts of the country - leaving streets flooded and cars submerged. In the city of Tarazona, located in the northeastern province of Zaragoza, a whopping 100mm of rain fell in just one hour on 11 July, overwhelming drainage systems and prompting a red alert along the Ebro River, which runs through the city. The downpour has left parts of the city waterlogged, with video footage showing cars submerged and roads turned into temporary rivers. Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has since issued storm and hail warnings across 25 provinces, with eight locations - including popular tourist hubs like Barcelona, Girona, and Tarragona - placed under orange-level alerts. The storms have been particularly disruptive in northern Spain, where the terrain - made up of valleys and ravines - is especially vulnerable to flash flooding. AEMET has warned that regions in Aragon and Catalonia could see as much as 50 litres per square metre of rain in the coming days, reports Chronicle Live. Local emergency crews have responded to over 30 weather-related incidents since last week, including blocked roads, uprooted trees, and flooded buildings. While no injuries or fatalities have been reported so far, the Military Emergency Unit (UME) has been deployed to support rescue operations in towns throughout the Zaragoza province. The severe weather conditions could potentially disrupt holiday plans for many British holidaymakers who are set to visit Spain this summer. Other tourist hotspots such as Alicante and Valencia have also been issued weather warnings, while the Balearic Islands remain on yellow alert. Despite the storms in the north and east, southern and southeastern parts of Spain are experiencing the opposite extreme of sweltering heat. Regions such as Murcia, Alicante, inland Andalusia, and parts of Extremadura are forecast to see temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius, marking a stark weather divide across the country. AEMET has released fresh heatwave warnings across Spain, with most of the country under a yellow hot weather warning while some areas are under amber warnings. It comes after Greece was hit with a severe heatwave which has led to one of its biggest tourist attractions closing for the afternoon. The Acropolis was closed from 1-5pm on Tuesday, 8 July, as temperatures soared to 38 degrees in Athens. Outdoor labourers and food delivery workers were also ordered to take a break in the afternoons by the Greek Government. The Government has also urged employers to provide remote working options for staff due to concerns over the heat. Tourists have been urged to take care in the hot weather and issued a warning over wildfires. The British Foreign Office said: 'There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. 'Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location. Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable.'
The Guardian
36 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Caught in the contest between China and the west, the Cook Islands asks where its future lies
On a remote stretch of land in the Cook Islands lies a second world war airstrip. Once used as a wartime supply route by American forces, the narrow runway is in dire need of resealing to allow larger tourist jets to land. Leaders on the northern island of Penrhyn have asked New Zealand, Australia and the US to help, but none have come through. Now, they hope China will step in and fund it. 'That is the dream,' says Penrhyn's executive director, Puna John Vano. 'We want to maintain our traditional partners, but if not, we're going to get assistance from elsewhere.' Funding for the airstrip is a symbol of a wider struggle unfolding in the Cook Islands, a new front in the contest between China and the west in the Pacific. The country of about 17,000 people has seen ties with its biggest ally and former colonial partner New Zealand fray as leaders draw it closer to Beijing. On the Cook Islands' main island of Rarotonga, many people are angry over the damage caused to relations with New Zealand. The Cook Islands struck major deals with China earlier this year for economic and other kinds of cooperation, sparking a diplomatic row with Wellington over a lack of consultation. Cook Islands operates in 'free association' New Zealand and while it governs its own affairs, Wellington provides assistance including in foreign affairs and defence. Tensions escalated and last month New Zealand abruptly cut off millions of dollars in critical aid and funding. Penrhyn island's executive director, Puna John Vano, says 'we're going to get assistance from elsewhere' if it doesn't come from customary partners. Now, the path ahead is unclear. On the country's main island, Rarotonga, many are angry over the damage caused to relations with New Zealand. Some welcome more Chinese investment but others raise questions over what it will bring. The Cook Islands prime minister, Mark Brown, and his government declined requests for an interview. But others, such as the opposition leader, Tina Browne, were vocal in their criticism of Beijing building its influence in the Cook Islands. 'China frightens me. Its involvement with my country scares me a bit,' Browne says. 'You have this big power and small, small us. What sort of voice would we have?' Rarotonga is a tourism hub and home to nearly three-quarters of the Cook Islands' population. The place is small enough to circle by motorbike in under an hour. In the sleepy seaside town, one of the main attractions is standing at the seawall to watch planes land. Opposition leader Tina Browne fears the Cook Islands will 'be swallowed up in China's money.' Many here share Browne's concerns over China, particularly as it begins to put pressure on the country's longstanding ties with New Zealand. This relationship is overwhelmingly popular – its citizens hold New Zealand citizenship. Cook Islanders have access to healthcare and employment opportunities in New Zealand. Fruit and vegetable seller Teremoana Napa spent 40 years living and working in New Zealand before returning to the Cook Islands. She is now on New Zealand's pension. 'The New Zealand passport gives us so much,' she says. 'We don't want a Cook Islands passport, that's a bloody dead-end passport.' Rarotonga's economy is heavily influenced by tourism, fishing revenue and the rising cost of imports. Others share concern over the loss of crucial aid from Wellington. Outside the country's main hospital, Calais Ngatan helps his heavily pregnant wife to the car. The young man fears what New Zealand's funding cuts will mean for the islands' already stretched healthcare system. New Zealand's NZ$18.2m budget support – which is tied up in the freeze – supports education, healthcare and other critical services. 'Our government decided to sign a contract with China,' Ngatan says. 'So it's limiting our resources over here.' He says he 'feels robbed' by China 'taking everything from us'. 'If we cut ties with New Zealand, it also cuts ties with all the tourists that are coming from overseas,' he says. 'That will be a big problem for us, because that's how we survive.' Watching planes land is a popular attraction on the island of Rarotonga. On Rarotonga, many people hold two jobs to make ends meet in an economy heavily influenced by outside forces: tourism demands, weather-affected fishing revenues and the rising cost of imported goods. The deal signed in February between the Cook Islands and China encompasses a series of cooperation agreements designed to support the domestic economy. They include more cooperation in trade, tourism, infrastructure, climate resilience and seabed minerals development. They also signalled closer diplomatic cooperation, with pledges to consult and support one another in multilateral forums, including the UN and the Pacific Islands Forum. The documents did not include references to security or military cooperation. Top: deep-sea mining plans have prompted concern in the Cook Islands. Above: tourism hub Rarotonga is home to nearly three-quarters of the country's population. China has already pledged $US1.5m to the Cook Islands for a new shipping vessel and promised to support renewable energy projects. The controversial practice of seabed mining is a key part of China's deals with the Cook Islands. The Pacific nation is one of the first countries in the world to grant exploration licences for deep-sea mineral exploration, a practice that has drawn criticism from others in the region. Gary van Eck walking through the research boat from Moana Minerals. Anna Powles, associate professor at Massey University's centre for defence and security studies, says deep-sea mining is crucial to China's interest in the Cook Islands. The two countries have agreed to collaborate on scientific research, joint expeditions, education and training. Powles says there is a 'race' for critical minerals for their defence application and for that reason China is 'actively engaged in finding opportunities and formalising partnerships with countries who are interested in mining their deep-sea minerals within their waters'. The activity has prompted concern in Rarotonga. Don Beer, head of Cook Islands' Fishing Association, is firmly opposed to seabed mineral exploration, citing concerns about its potential impact on already declining fish stocks. His unease is compounded by China's growing interest not just in minerals but also in the Cook Islands' maritime resources. 'We've just got to get the best possible deal out of them. But we've got to be careful,' Beer says. 'Like with any nation, we have to make sure they respect that we have sovereignty.' Cook Islands is one example of a story playing out across the Pacific, where China has been steadily deepening its influence. In recent years Beijing has signed security and development deals with Solomon Islands, Kiribati and most recently Nauru, reshaping traditional alliances. For New Zealand and its allies, the fear is that China's growing presence in the region could eventually translate into military access or control over critical infrastructure. Powles says that for Beijing, deepening relations with the Cook Island shores up 'closer diplomatic ties with Pacific Island partners and that helps to influence and shape a regional order'. From New Zealand's perspective, she notes, the aid freeze was a sign of just how fragile the relationship has become. 'It is quite an extreme move to pause aid,' she says. 'New Zealand has been increasingly clear over the years that, particularly in the security realm, that it sees China as a disruptor and a destabilising actor in the Pacific.' Some in the Cook Islands welcome more Chinese investment but others raise questions over what it will bring. Next month, the Cook Islands will mark 60 years of self-government in free association with New Zealand. As preparations for a massive inter-island celebration unfold, the event is tinged with diplomatic unease. Cook Islands has invited New Zealand to attend – Wellington says their attendance is still 'under consideration'. In addition to pausing financial assistance, New Zealand is also not considering new funding 'until the Cook Islands Government takes concrete steps to repair the relationship and restore trust'. 'New Zealand and Cook Islands officials are engaging on this,' a New Zealand ministry of foreign affairs and trade spokesperson told the Guardian. 'New Zealand hopes that steps will be taken swiftly to address New Zealand's concerns so that this support can be resumed as soon as possible.' The Guardian contacted the Chinese embassy in New Zealand for comment, but did not receive a response. At a press briefing in Beijing last month, Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China's cooperation with the Cook Islands 'targets no third party, nor should it be interfered with or constrained by any third party'. He said the two countries were 'comprehensive strategic partners based on mutual respect and common development', adding that their partnership was based on 'equality and mutual benefit'. Fishing association head Don Beer on his boat. 'We have to make sure [China] respect that we have sovereignty.' But others, like Browne, are worried about China's growing influence. She fears her country will 'be swallowed up in China's money'. 'I totally support us not being too reliant on others, I see that as a real positive,' she says. 'But when I see China's involvement, I think: two steps forward, three steps back.'
