World's second most popular destination welcomes record 21.8 million summer visitors

By AFP   October 2, 2024 | 06:26 pm PT
World's second most popular destination welcomes record 21.8 million summer visitors
Tourists enjoy the beach in Valencia, on Spain's east coast, July 5, 2024. Photo by AFP
Spain, the world's second most popular tourist destination after France, welcomed a record 21.8 million international visitors this summer, official data showed on Wednesday, an influx of tourism that has triggered some protests in the country.

That figure was a 7.3% rise on the summer of 2023, the national statistics institute (INE) said.

Spain received 10.9 million visitors in July and as many again in August, INE said.

The economic impact from tourism is "a great success for the well-being, social cohesion, and economic development of Spain", Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu said at an event organized by the tourism promotion agency Turespana in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands.

In a nod to people unhappy with excess tourism, Hereu said Spain must "transform" its model for the sector, which needs to be diversified and decentralized.

The deluge of tourists has not pleased all Spaniards, with protesters making their feelings known in recent months, notably in Barcelona, Malaga in Andalusia, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries.

Protesters complained about a strain on infrastructure, pollution and noise pollution.

They were also angered at rising rental prices due to many properties being let out short-term to tourists at lucrative prices.

 
 
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