Spain 'humiliated' after UK tourists take action over not feeling welcome

Destinations have been hit by sweeping protests in recent weeks and months amid an influx of Brits.

Spain has been humiliated after UK tourists stood defiant in the wake of rising protests and demonstrations over tourism. European Union destinations have been hit by sweeping protests in recent weeks and months amid an influx of Brits.

Now, Spain has logged a record number of summer visitors amid overtourism protests. The figure of 21.8 million international visitors to Spain is a staggering and eye-watering 7.3 per cent rise on 2023, says national statistics institute, in new figures.

Spain is the world’s second most popular tourist destination after France and in July received 10.9 million visitors and as many again in August, according to the INE. The tourism minister, Jordi Hereu, called the impact of tourism “a great success for the wellbeing, social cohesion and economic development of Spain” at an event organised by the tourism promotion agency Turespaña in Tenerife, but added that Spain must transform its model for the sector.

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The most common nationality among visitors to Spain over the summer was British, with 4.17 million UK tourists, followed by France (with 3.75 million visitors), Germany (2.49 million) and Italy (1.35 million). There was also a 13% increase in US tourists to 850,000.

Spain hosted 64.8 million tourists over the first eight months of the year – another record, the INE said. Tourism revenues rose by 17.6% over the eight-month period to €86.7bn (£72bn), the equivalent of €187 spent per tourist a day.

According to Exceltur, an organisation created by Spain’s leading tourism groups, 90 million tourists are expected over the course of 2024. It comes after a study found a third of people in Spain say local area has too many foreign tourists.

Spain is a go-to for Brits on holiday each and every summer, from the mainland and Madrid to the likes of the Balearics and Canaries.