Stories

Sun, 07 Jun 2026

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 Spain's visitor numbers hit new highs as tourists avoid Middle East

The European country had 9.1 million international visitors in April, the most ever for that month.

* Benidorm, Spain's tourism industry has made a remarkable recovery since the Covid pandemic, with foreign arrival numbers breaking records each year.
* In 2025, Spain received 97 million tourists, making it the world's second-biggest tourist destination after France.
* The industry is expected to continue growing, with the potential to reach 100 million tourists in 2026 and become the number one tourist destination in the world.
* The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has made Spain an attractive alternative to destinations like Dubai and Turkey, leading to increased bookings.
* However, local residents are increasingly expressing concerns about the impact of tourism on their environment and quality of life.
* Rising fuel costs could also affect European travel habits, while protests against over-tourism have become more common in cities like Barcelona.
* The Spanish government has fined Airbnb for advertising unlicensed apartments and implemented measures to curb the growth of holiday accommodation.
* Local activists are demanding more action to address the issues caused by tourism, including overcrowding, environmental degradation, and housing shortages.