Spain and Portugal Set Tourism Records

Spain has recorded unprecedented tourism figures, welcoming 64.3 million visitors in the first eight months of 2024, up 11.2% from the previous year, despite growing protests over mass tourism. The UK, France, and Germany led visitor statistics, contributing to a significant economic impact, with a reported spending of 86.5 billion euros. In August alone, Spain saw nearly 11 million tourists, which sparked protests in regions like Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, highlighting concerns over infrastructure strain and rising rental prices. Meanwhile, Portugal also experienced a tourism boom, with 2.3 million foreign visitors in August 2024, a 5.3% increase year-on-year, marking its busiest summer season yet. The influx of tourists in Portugal has been attributed to visitors from Spain and other neighboring countries, and overall visitor numbers increased by 6.7% in the first eight months of the year. Both countries are grappling with the challenges posed by rapid tourism growth, prompting calls for a transformation of their tourism models to address sustainability and local concerns.