Key facts
- Spain anticipates a record number of foreign tourists this summer, with 43 million visitors expected.
- Despite the tourism boom, 32.2% of Spanish residents cannot afford to take a holiday for at least one week per year.
- Rising costs for housing, food, and utilities are significantly impacting household budgets.
- The Spanish Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) states that holidays are often cut from budgets due to financial pressures.
- Families that can afford holidays are reducing trip duration and spending.
Spain is poised to achieve record-breaking numbers of foreign tourists this summer, with projections indicating around 43 million visitors and an estimated spending of nearly 64 billion euros. This surge in international tourism contrasts sharply with the financial realities faced by many Spanish residents.
A report from the National Statistics Institute (INE) reveals that 32.2% of the population cannot afford to take a holiday for at least one week annually. While this figure has slightly decreased from the previous year, a significant portion of Spanish households still find a break out of reach.
Ileana Izverniceanu, Communications Director at the Spanish Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), explained to Euronews that this situation is a long-standing economic reality, not solely attributable to the rising cost of travel. The OCU's survey indicates that 27% of Spaniards will not take a holiday, with an additional 8% uncertain about their ability to do so, reflecting widespread economic uncertainty.
The OCU Family Solvency Index, though slightly improved, remains below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that many families do not yet feel the economic recovery in their daily lives. Essential expenses such as housing, food, and utilities consume a substantial part of household income, making holidays a dispensable luxury for many.
Families that do manage to travel are adapting by shortening their trips, choosing less distant destinations, opting for cheaper accommodation, or limiting their leisure spending. The average cost of a beach holiday is estimated at 1,555 euros, with international trips costing an average of 2,327 euros, amounts deemed unaffordable by many.
The OCU emphasizes that the inability to save exacerbates the problem, with 69% of households struggling to set aside income. This makes planning for exceptional expenses like holidays difficult without compromising other essential payments. The organization advocates for measures to alleviate the cost of living, particularly in housing, energy, and food sectors, stressing that holidays are crucial for well-being and work-life balance.