Early data from Spain’s National Institute of Statistics indicate a sustained rebound in accommodation usage from January through July across a range of lodging options, including overnight stays in apartments, campsites, rural tourism establishments, and hostels. The provisional figures show more than 21.8 million overnight arrivals registered in July, signaling a positive year-over-year trajectory that surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the same period. This reading comes from INE’s latest provisional release, which confirms a significant lift in domestic and international travel activity during the seventh month of the year.
In July, total overnight stays rose by 36.8 percent compared with July of the previous year, when the total reached 15.9 million. The monthly surge reflects a broad acceleration in travel demand, supported by a combination of domestic travelers and visitors from abroad navigating Spain’s tourism landscape amid evolving travel patterns.
Looking at the composition, foreign visitors accounted for a substantial share of July’s growth, with overnight stays by non-residents increasing by 135.8 percent. Domestic demand, meanwhile, experienced a slight decline, with Spanish residents recording a 1.1 percent drop in July. These contrasting movements help explain how Spain’s tourism mix shifted in the peak travel season, reinforcing the economy’s dependence on international visitors while maintaining a resilient domestic segment.
Of the 21.8 million overnight stays tallied by INE for July, about 11.4 million occurred within Spain, roughly 7 million involved travelers from other European Union countries, and approximately 3.3 million reflected visitors from the rest of the world. These figures illustrate a broad geographic distribution of demand, underscoring Spain’s appeal to a diverse set of international markets and the importance of cross-border travel to the country’s accommodation sector.
Increase the average length of stay
INE data further reveal a rise in the average length of stay in non-hotel accommodations. In July, the average nights per traveler reached 4.7, signaling a deeper engagement by visitors with Spain’s accommodation options beyond a quick visit. The sustained momentum in overnight stays is complemented by a broader trend: during the first seven months of the year, overnight stays in these types of lodging more than doubled year over year, rising by 103.1 percent compared with the same period in the prior year. This expansion points to a seasonally robust tourism season and a shift toward longer visits in non-traditional lodging categories, including rural and shared accommodations, which appear to be attracting a growing share of international and domestic travelers alike.