Spanish Tourist Apartments Boom: Outpacing Hotels by a Wide Margin

Tourism in Spain: Apartments Outpace Hotels in Bookings. Spain's tourism sector is experiencing a shift, with tourist apartments outperforming hotels in booking growth. Data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) reveals a stark contrast: a 13.9% increase in tourist apartment bookings compared to a modest 1.7% rise in hotel stays between January and April 2024. This trend is notable despite efforts by some Spanish cities to regulate the booming short-term rental market. "The figures clearly show a preference for alternative accommodations," says a tourism expert. The Canary Islands emerged as the most popular destination, attracting 5.7 million visitors, followed by Catalonia and Andalusia. This trend suggests a need for the tourism industry to adapt to evolving traveler preferences and the growing popularity of vacation rentals.