Spain saw a record-breaking 21.8 million international tourists this summer, according to official data released on Wednesday, sparking some protests in the country. 
 
This number represents a 7.3% increase compared to the summer of 2023, as reported by the National Statistics Institute (INE). 
 
Spain, the second most popular tourist destination in the world after France, welcomed 10.9 million visitors in both July and August, INE said. 
 
The impact on the economy from tourism is “a great success for the well-being, social cohesion, and economic development of Spain,” according to Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu. 
 
Acknowledging concerns about over-tourism, Hereu said that Spain must “transform” its tourism model, calling for greater diversification and decentralisation within the sector. 
 
However, the influx of tourists has not been well-received by all locals, with protests erupting in recent months in cities such as Barcelona, Málaga and the Balearic and Canary Islands.  
 
Demonstrators have voiced concerns over the strain on infrastructure, increased pollution, and noise. They are also frustrated by the surge in rental prices, driven by properties being rented out short-term to tourists at high rates.
 
In response, several regions have taken action, with Barcelona announcing plans to stop apartment rentals to tourists by 2029.  
 
The socialist government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, is also working on establishing a registry for tourist and seasonal accommodations. 
 
Furthermore, during the summer, British tourists made up the largest group of visitors to Spain, with 4.17 million arrivals from the UK. 
 
Following the UK, France accounted for 3.75 million visitors, Germany for 2.49 million, and Italy for 1.35 million. In addition, there was a 13% rise in tourists from the United States, with 850,000 Americans visiting Spain. 
 
Spain welcomed a total of 64.8 million tourists during the first eight months of the year, setting another record, according to the INE. 
 
The top destinations for these visitors were Catalonia, as well as the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
 
Moreover, around 90 million tourists are expected over this year, according to Exceltur, surpassing last year’s figure of 85.1 million. 
 
Tourism revenue is projected to exceed €200 billion, boosting the sector's contribution to the Spanish economy to 13.2%, according to Exceltur.