Tourism remains the most crucial sector of Spain’s economy.
Despite a significant rise in hotel prices, Spain recorded an all-time high in overnight stays last year, according to the DPA news agency.
The number of overnight stays in 2024 increased by nearly 5% compared to the previous record year, reaching 363.6 million, as reported by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE).
Hotels in Spain, a popular holiday destination, have become increasingly expensive. According to INE, the average room price rose by 7.4% last year to €121.5. Nevertheless, occupancy rates also grew, reaching 61.4%, an increase of 2.2% compared to 2023.
The record-breaking numbers were primarily driven by international tourists, with their overnight stays increasing by 7.5% to approximately 242 million. Visitors from the United Kingdom and Germany contributed the most, accounting for 60.3 million and 42.6 million overnight stays, respectively. Meanwhile, the number of overnight stays by domestic tourists saw only a slight rise of 0.2%.
Mallorca remained Spain’s top destination in 2024, with hotels on the Mediterranean island registering 49.5 million overnight stays—an increase of over 3.5 million compared to the previous year.
Tourism is the backbone of Spain’s economy, contributing over 12% to the country’s GDP and employing more than 2.5 million people.
