Priced Out Of Paradise

A quiet interest is spreading among tourism professionals successful nan Costa del Sol: less visitors are coming. And it’s not conscionable a localised problem aliases a passing perception. The astir caller charismatic data, covering up to May 2025, shows a clear diminution successful nan number of overseas visitors and overnight stays successful hotels and vacation apartments. Holiday rentals are besides suffering: occupancy successful nan Costa del Sol fell by 2.2 per cent during nan first half of nan year, according to nan Andalusian Holiday Rental Association (AVVA-Pro).

This is nan first driblet successful tourism figures crossed nan Costa del Sol since nan pandemic. Last year, nan region managed to equilibrium a autumn successful home visitors pinch beardown world demand. But successful 2025, moreover that overseas push is not capable to cushion nan blow.

One of nan main factors down nan slump appears to beryllium price. Many Spanish travellers now find it cheaper to vacation overseas than to enactment successful Spain. “I’ve been spending my summers successful Torremolinos for 50 years,” says 1 regular visitor. “But now, a week successful an flat is unaffordable. It’s cheaper to alert to nan Caribbean, moreover pinch nan costs of nan plane.”

This paradox is reflected crossed nan country

While Spain continues to pull grounds numbers of world tourists—and is connected way to situation France and nan US for nan world apical spot—Spanish residents are progressively priced retired of holidaying astatine home. A study by Mabrian, reported by El País, recovered that spending a week successful Mallorca now costs astir nan aforesaid arsenic a travel to Bali. In fact, nan full costs of flights and accommodation was €428.5 for Mallorca and €338.2 for Bali.

In akin comparisons, Mallorca’s Playa de Muro was much costly than Punta Cana, moreover for a basal all-inclusive week. According to nan recreation relation Aviba, a vacation successful Playa de Palma costs astir €2,070 per person, while akin trips to destinations for illustration Cabo Verde (€1,560) and Thailand (€2,400) travel successful importantly cheaper.

Price increases

The inclination extends good beyond nan Balearic Islands. The Costa del Sol, Costa Brava, Costa Blanca and nan Canary Islands are each seeing value increases that push them beyond nan scope of galore Spaniards. A study by Destinia recovered that immoderate nationalist destinations, specified arsenic Menorca and Mojácar, now costs almost nan aforesaid arsenic holidays successful nan Riviera Maya aliases Punta Cana.

What’s down nan value surge?

Between 2021 and 2025, nan mean costs of hotels successful Spain roseate by up to 25.7 per cent, while flights jumped betwixt 10.5 per cent and 62.9 per cent, according to Mabrian. The Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) confirms that accommodation prices person accrued much than 50 per cent since nan pandemic. Hoteliers reason that portion of nan emergence is owed to investments aimed astatine improving quality, but nan extremity consequence is that section travellers are being priced out.

In 2024, Spain welcomed 61.9 cardinal overseas visitors, compared to 54.3 cardinal Spanish residents travelling wrong nan country—a stagnation for home tourism, while world figures rise. As 1 caller study noted, moreover schoolhouse groups are now choosing replacement destinations because accepted ones for illustration nan Balearic Islands have go excessively expensive.

Costa del Sol whitethorn beryllium nan clearest illustration of this shift, but it is portion of a broader nationalist trend.