In September, hotel stays in Spain showed a notable rise, increasing by 39.9 percent according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The country recorded 35.9 million overnight stays in September, compared with 25.6 million in the same month of the previous year. This surge reflects a significant rebound in domestic travel and a gradual return of foreign visitors, signaling a broad-based recovery in Spain’s tourism sector.
However, the September figures for this year do not surpass the records from September 2019. The pandemic era left tourism levels well below pre-crisis highs, with Spain waiting for a full pre-pandemic benchmark to reset. Provisional observations show that total overnight stays for September still lagged behind 2019, when summer tourism had delivered higher volumes.
By origin of guests, resident stays accounted for about 12 million overnight visits, representing roughly 33.5 percent of the total. Non-residents contributed more than 23.9 million overnight stays. For domestic travelers, September this year exceeded the pre-Covid level of 2019 (11.5 million), yet international visitors did not match the 26 million overnight stays recorded in September 2019. The mixed pattern suggests a stronger rebound among locals, with foreign demand continuing to recover gradually.
Statistics also show that average stay duration grew, with the September 2022 activity reflecting a 5.3 percent rise in the length of stay compared to September 2021. The average stay per traveler reached 3.3 nights, underscoring a longer engagement with hotel services during the month.
Looking at the first nine months of the year, total overnight stays in Spanish hotels more than doubled versus the same period in 2021, reaching 256.5 million. Nevertheless, these nine months still fall short of pre-pandemic levels, with activity remaining below the 2019 benchmark for the same period. The industry is navigating a path back toward the seasonal peaks and consumer patterns observed before the crisis, while catching up to pre-pandemic demand dynamics.
In terms of prices, the annual Hotel Price Index (HPI) rose to 13.3 percent in September, consistent with the August figure and marking a 2.8-point decrease relative to September 2021. The resilience of Spanish hotel pricing points to ongoing recovery, as the sector experiences a sustained price trend over successive months. The hotel price environment shows a gradual normalization as occupancy and revenue metrics begin to stabilize after the pandemic shock.
On performance metrics, the average daily rate (ADR) stood at 107.2 euros in September, signaling a 14 percent year-over-year increase from September 2021. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) reached 78.9 euros, up 41.4 percent from a year earlier. This combination of higher room rates and improved occupancy contributed to the strongest reported revenue figures for September since the series began in 2008, highlighting a strong recovery phase for the hotel industry in Spain.