Has summer tourism in Spain hit its peak? British visitors keep coming as German and French numbers drop
Record July arrivals put Spain’s tourism sector in the spotlight, but some old favourites are staying away
If you thought British holidaymakers were getting tired of Spain’s sunshine, think again. This July, more than two million Brits jetted in for their summer break, according to new data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). In fact, the number of British visitors crept up ever so slightly: up by 0.7%, or nearly 15,000 extra arrivals compared to last year. That makes the UK, once again, Spain’s top source of tourists, while Germany and France both hit a bit of a lull.It’s the first time since the pandemic that what you might call Spain’s “tourism trinity”, the UK, Germany and France, has shown this sort of split. While the British are sticking with tried-and-true favourites (particularly Andalucía and the Balearic Islands, which saw tens of thousands more UK arrivals), their German and French counterparts seem to be taking a breather.
The German numbers especially caught analysts’ attention: 1,185,055 arrivals in July, which is 60,000 fewer than the same month last year, a noticeable dip of 4.8%. The fall’s most obvious in traditional hotspots; the Balearic Islands welcomed 58,000 fewer Germans, an 8.5% plunge. Catalonia saw German arrivals tumble by nearly 20%. Still, other regions, like Valencia and the Canary Islands, offered a silver lining, pulling in more German visitors than before.
The French don’t seem all that keen either right now. France sent about 50,500 fewer tourists - a drop of 3.1% from last July. The biggest dips were seen in the Valencian Community (down 25%) and Madrid (down 40%), although the Balearic and Canary Islands managed to entice extra bookings. Economic troubles in Germany and fiscal pressures in France might be putting a damper on travel for some.
Strangely enough, while the ‘big three’ cool off, Spain’s overall numbers are shooting up. INE registered a historic milestone in July, with 11 million international arrivals – more people than ever choosing Spanish beaches, cities and countryside. That’s thanks, in part, to new visitors from places like Ireland, Turkey, Portugal, the Netherlands and Denmark. Even China, the United States and Argentina are contributing more to Spain’s tourist crowds.
It’s not all parties and paella, though. If you dig into the stats, you’ll spot further drops from Belgium (down 50,000), Switzerland (down 36,000), Austria (down 29,000) and Sweden (down 11,000). Whether this is just a blip, or the first sign that Spain’s tourism boom has peaked, remains to be seen. The full verdict will have to wait for August’s figures, which won’t land until Wednesday October 2.
So while British arrivals are still going strong, numbers from Germany and France have dipped, and there’s a fair bit of shuffling going on among other European visitors too. Whether this is the start of a new trend or just a temporary wobble is anyone’s guess for now. All eyes are on next month’s figures to see what the summer story really looks like.
You might also be interested in: Holidays in Spain—The best entertainment for tourists
Image: Atlantic Ambience/Pexels
Address
Casas del Puente 3, Cartagena, Murcia, Spain, 30397Tel: +34 623 140 902
The Astronomy and Science Centre Foundation has star-themed events and activities to delight novices and experts of all ages
Astronomy Tours runs a whole host of astronomical activities and events in the Murcia Region, from astronomical observation sessions to a magical cruise under the stars, to really fire up an interest in the cosmic world beyond our atmosphere.
Their main base of operations is the Finca Astronomica, located close to the town of La Aljorra in the Campo de Cartagena, where you can join their astronomy tours either in the daytime or at night, all year round.
At the Finca, you’re welcomed with delicious food, drinks, a bonfire and a variety of astronomical tools and gadgets. In the summer season, they also have tours in other locations, including San Pedro del Pinatar, La Manga and Camposol, not to mention their unmissable cruise under the stars, which involves a nighttime cruise on the Mar Menor with tapas and drinks, plus a guided presentation of the night sky as you watch the galaxy glide by.
The Astronomy Tours and the Finca Astronomica are supported by the Astronomy and Science Centre Foundation, which was founded in 2019 by a group of astronomers and Starlight-certified guides and monitors in the astronomical observatories in Spain.The purpose of the Foundation is to promote the knowledge and interest in the field of astronomy and astronomy-related sciences, which covers areas such as physics, chemistry, biology, geology, but also history, archeology, urban and medical aspects of social life, literature, art, culture and (of course) astrology.
By promoting this knowledge and getting their customers interested in astronomy, the Foundation hopes to achieve higher goals such as bringing the stars a little closer to people, and helping them to understand the importance of caring about our planet and the whole human population as a one.
To achieve those goals, the Foundation organises its day- and nighttime activities and camps which are suitable for both children and adults, and as well as this they work with 
schools and organisations and write books for children to bring astronomy to the masses.
schools and organisations and write books for children to bring astronomy to the masses.As part of this mission, they’re creating an astronomically themed park right on the Costa Cálida called the Astronomy and Science Centre which has an observatory available to the public to see the stars and the planets, and where they also promote ecofriendly and sustainable activities and closeness to nature.
The Finca Astronomica even has its own friendly and well cared for animals which live in really big spaces where people can easily enter and interact with them in their own environment.
What’s more, you can get involved in all sorts of other fun and activities for all the family at the Finca Astronomica, including glamping under the stars, stroking the animals at their petting zoo and enjoying sports like darts, archery, nerf gun fights, and many more.
This year, Finca Astronomica is excited to unveil its very own Yurt Village. Alongside the beautifully crafted wooden glamping pods, the yurts combine traditional charm with all the modern comforts including double beds, cosy carpets and plenty of shelving for your personal belongings.
But that’s not all. Each yurt comes handily equipped with light and electricity, so that you can charge your devices even as you recharge your spirit under the vast, starry sky.
This summer season is about to come alive with regular tours happening three days a week, while Adult Only Fridays are just around the corner.
Tours are available in English, Spanish and Polish.
