Spain registers record number of foreign visitors despite anti-tourism protests

Spain has once again shattered tourism records, despite the emergence of a growing anti-tourism movement within the country.

According to data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), international tourist arrivals up to the end of November 2024 surpassed 88.5 million visitors, marking the highest figure ever recorded and representing a 10.7% increase compared to the previous year.

Tourists are also spending at unprecedented levels. Between January and November 2024, total tourist expenditure soared by 16.7%, reaching an extraordinary €118.6 billion.

The nationalities of visitors remain consistent with previous trends. In November alone, the United Kingdom topped the list with one million tourists, a 5.5% rise from November 2023.

France followed with 751,182 visitors (up 17.4%), and Germany came next with 650,733 tourists (up 4.4%). Year-round statistics show Brits leading with 17.5 million visits, followed by the French at over 12.2 million and the Germans at more than 11.3 million.

The destinations chosen by tourists are similarly predictable. In November, the Canary Islands were the most popular, attracting 25.6% of all visitors, thanks to their appeal as a winter sun destination. Catalonia came next with 22.2%, followed by Andalusia with 13.7%. The Canary Islands alone saw an 8.6% increase in visitors compared to November 2023.

For the year as a whole, Catalonia drew the largest number of tourists, with 18.9 million visitors, up 9.9% from 2023. The Balearic Islands followed with 15.1 million visitors (a 6.1% rise), while the Canary Islands welcomed 13.8 million tourists, an increase of 9.6%.

Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism highlighted the significant growth in tourist arrivals to regions outside the six traditional hotspots of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Madrid, and Valencia. These areas experienced a remarkable 40.9% increase in visitors during November, attributed to policies aimed at decentralising tourism.

However, the record-breaking figures come amid growing resistance from locals.

While 2024 has been a year of booming tourism, it has also seen widespread protests across Spain. Residents of major cities and popular island destinations have taken to the streets to voice concerns over the impact of short-term tourist rentals on housing affordability and the gentrification of their neighbourhoods. ALSO READ: Record number of summer visitors to Spain underlines over-tourism fears.

ALSO READ: Barcelona wants to revoke all city’s 10,101 tourist apartment licences by Nov 2028.

ALSO READ: Spanish government to limit short-term rentals and tourist flats to address housing crisis.

ALSO READ: Tourists in Barcelona sprayed with water pistols, as 2,800 protest against mass tourism.

ALSO READ: Thousands protest against mass tourism across the Canary Islands.

Estadística de Movimientos Turísticos en Fronteras (#FRONTUR). Noviembre 2024 @es_INE
En los once primeros meses de 2024, el número de turistas internacionales que llegaron a España alcanzó su cifra más alta, superando los 88,5 millones
Nota de prensa
👇https://t.co/DfyN4NjZpA… pic.twitter.com/f1OiY0Lr4U

— INE España (@es_INE) January 3, 2025