Spain’s domestic tourism falls 1.1pc in july as foreign visitors rise

Domestic tourism in Spain fell by 1.1pc in July 2026.
Foreign visitors rose by the same amount.
Spanish hotels recorded 44.8m overnight stays.
The average hotel stay has fallen to 3.40 days.
Over 38pc of domestic travellers have planned staycations.

Spain’s domestic tourism fell by 1.1pc in July 2026 while foreign visitors rose by the same amount, according to the National Statistics Institute. The data has reflected a two-speed tourism reality where domestic travellers have reduced their stays while international visitors have continued to arrive in large numbers. Spanish hotels recorded 44.8m overnight stays in July, a rise of just 0.3pc on the same month in 2025.

The decline in domestic tourism has been attributed to rising travel costs and inflation which have encouraged Spanish residents to reduce their holiday spending or stay at home. The average hotel stay has fallen to 3.40 days as travellers have shaved days off their trips to balance their budgets. High long-haul flight costs and general travel anxiety have pushed over 38pc of domestic travelers to plan staycations or short regional road trips instead of going abroad.

The rise in foreign visitors has partially offset the domestic decline. International demand has remained resilient despite higher prices. The Hotel Price Index has jumped 5.9pc year-over-year and the average daily revenue per occupied room has surged nearly 6.8pc, hitting an average of €156.92.