Spain's Visitors Spend More While Arriving Less—A Strategy to Ease Tourism Strain

Spain's tourists spent 15.5% more money in October 2024 than a year earlier, even though visitor numbers grew just 9.5%. This gap suggests travelers are staying longer or spending bigger. Why it matters: higher spending per visitor could ease the overcrowding protests in Barcelona and the Canary Islands while keeping tourism vital to Spain's economy. The real question: can Spain maintain this shift without losing the revenue tourism provides?