The more Spain chases, the more tourists there are

According to information from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, in August alone, the number of international visitors to the country reached 10.9 million, an increase of 7% compared to the same period in 2023. About 6.3 million of them chose to travel to the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Andalusia.

Earlier in July, thousands of protesters in Barcelona used water cannons to spray tourists and chanted: "Tourists go home." Similar protests also took place in the Balearic Islands, home to Mallorca, another popular Spanish destination.

In response to local people's reactions, many people believe that Spain's tourism industry will experience a "sad" summer due to the lack of visitors.

But the data on the ground is contradictory. The number of international visitors to the country this summer continues to rise. And the most popular destinations are the same places where the most protests have occurred.

For example, the Balearic Islands welcomed around 2.4 million international visitors in August, up 4% compared to the same period in 2023. Or the Andalusia region also attracted around 1.6 million visitors, up 9% compared to the same period last year.

In the Catalonia region, home to the city of Barcelona, famous for its unique architecture and works of art, it attracted about 2.3 million visitors in August.

The more Spain chases, the more tourists there are photo 1

People protest in Barcelona against too many tourists. (Photo: AP)

According to CNBC, a survey conducted by the Mallorca Tourist Board found that 89% of all visitors from the United States were either not concerned or unaware of the protests by local residents. 70% of those surveyed said the protests did not affect their travel intentions.

Daniel Pardo Rivacoba, a protester in Barcelona, said: The anti-tourist protests are not over yet. To avoid further disruption to their lives, residents will continue to call on local authorities to take measures to reduce the current overcrowding.

Glenn Fogel, CEO of Booking Holdings, said that protesting is not an effective solution. In fact, it can have the opposite effect.

According to Glenn Fogel, although it is the responsibility of the government, solving this problem requires cooperation between the parties including: the government, tourists, residents and travel companies. "Everyone benefits economically from tourists," Fogel added.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tay-ban-nha-cang-duoi-khach-du-lich-cang-dong-post837172.html