More and more tourists visit Spain each year | Photo: Alex Tihonovs / Shutterstock
Perhaps fuming over Spaniards complaining about the increase of tourists and how they overcrowd beaches, bars, and restaurants, Britons might be overlooking Spain over two other European locations in their holiday destination searches that might surprise you.
According to a report of popular flight searches by One Sure Insurance in the UK, Amsterdam and Paris are drawing more attention from Britons than Spain is. The study revealed a surge in interest from Britons in European destinations such as Budapest, Krakow, and Athens, with Amsterdam having the highest overall search volume.
Most sought-after European destinations
- Amsterdam – 42,000 searches
- Paris – 26,000 searches
- Barcelona – 20,000 searches
- Edinburgh – 16,000 searches
- Rome – 14,000 searches
- Budapest – 11,000 searches
- Krakow – 11,000 searches
- Milan – 9,700 searches
- Istanbul – 9,300 searches
- Athens – 7,100 searches
Barcelona, Spain, dropped to third place on the list, and it was the only Spanish destination featured in the report. Experts explained that many people in the UK are considering other tourist destinations for their vacations.
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“We’re seeing a trend of more adventurous travellers who are looking to explore beyond the usual hotspots,” said a One Sure Insurance spokesperson, according to the GB news outlet.
“While cities like Paris and Rome continue to dominate, there’s an increasing interest in destinations that offer a unique blend of history, culture, and cost-effectiveness,” the spokesperson added.
“Britons are looking to avoid over-tourism protests and are considering staycations as an alternative to travelling abroad. Seeing Edinburgh rise to fourth place reflects the growing appreciation for local heritage, too,” the study found.
Spaniards protest vs. all tourists
While GB hinted that the shift in Britons’ searches could be due to protests against UK tourists, the fact is that Spaniards are protesting against the government, not against tourists, because they understand the sector is one of the country’s main sources of income.
According to a recent Euro News report, over 90 million tourists from abroad visited Spain in 2024. The report adds that consultancy firm Braintrust estimates that the number will increase to 115 by 2040.
The fact is that Spaniards are protesting against the inadequate measures the government has in place to manage the increasing flow of tourists to the country and not against particular visitors.
Spain’s tertiary sector contributes 68.7 per cent of the GDP and employs 76 per cent of the active population, Santander reported recently.
“The tourism sector – which contributes over 12 per cent to Spain’s GDP and represents 12 per cent of total employment – is pivotal for the country’s economy, being Spain’s main source of income, as the country is the second-most popular tourist destination in the world,” Santander added.