Record numbers of British holidaymakers descended on Spain this summer, with official figures showing 9.6 million tourists arrived in July alone, an 11% increase on 2015. Approximately one in four visitors came from Britain, undeterred by the weak pound and the Brexit vote. The surge has led to hotel shortages across popular resorts, with some areas in Mallorca fully booked until late September.
The shift in tourism patterns has been largely attributed to terrorist attacks in the eastern Mediterranean. The Istanbul airport attack in June and other incidents prompted many holidaymakers to choose Spain instead. The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) expects a 25% year-on-year increase in visitors to Spain, while Turkey has seen a 30% decline, Egypt 60%, and Tunisia a near-total collapse. An estimated 2.2 million tourists redirected their holidays to Spain from these destinations.
However, the influx has sparked concerns about over-tourism. Spain is on track to welcome 67 million visitors this year, far outstripping its population of 47 million. In Palma, Mallorca, anti-tourist graffiti appeared on historic buildings, with slogans such as 'tourists go home.' The Balearic Islands have seen huge cruise ships arriving, with up to 20,000 passengers landing every Tuesday morning. 'It has been a record year and has sparked a big political debate over whether the island is now full,' said Humphey Carter of the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
British tourists, facing a 15% drop in the pound's value since the Brexit referendum, have increasingly opted for all-inclusive deals. Thomas Cook reported that six out of ten package holidays sold to British holidaymakers were all-inclusive. This trend has frustrated bar owners in Magaluf, who have seen fewer customers as tourists dine and drink in their hotels. 'The days when you'd see 3,000-4,000 British drunks on the strip are gone,' Carter noted.
The demand has stretched hotel capacity, with many resorts extending their seasons. Spanish hotel federations report 100% occupancy in September and strong trading for October. Hotels that traditionally closed in autumn are now staying open longer or year-round. Gatwick Airport handled 8.5 million passengers to Spain in the year to July, a 12.2% increase, with destinations like Almeria seeing a 54% rise.
