Spanish Tourism Overcrowding and its Absence in French Tourism

Spanish Tourism Overcrowding and its Absence in French Tourism

In the realm of global travel, two European powerhouses—Spain and France—have long been popular destinations for tourists. However, a closer look reveals that Spain's tourism landscape is grappling with overtourism issues more intensely than its neighbouring country.

Last year, Spain welcomed a record-breaking 94 million international travellers, just behind France's 100 million visitors. Despite the close numbers, Spain's smaller population of around 48 million people means a higher relative tourist pressure per capita compared to France. This disproportionate impact on Spain's local infrastructure, particularly in popular coastal and island areas, has been a key concern.

The concentration of tourists in sensitive areas like the Canary and Balearic Islands, with populations under 5 million but over 15 million visitors annually, exacerbates resource strain and community disruption more than in broader mainland France.

Another significant factor is the housing crisis exacerbated by short-term rentals like Airbnb. In Spain, this has led to a severe reduction in housing availability for locals, driving up prices and sparking protests. Barcelona has responded by phasing out thousands of short-term rental apartments to protect resident housing, a crisis that is less pronounced in France at a similar scale.

Urban centres in Spain, such as Barcelona, have seen traditional neighbourhoods change, with local shops replaced by tourist-oriented businesses, creating a "monoculture" effect. Residents increasingly feel excluded from their own cities and beaches due to price hikes and crowding.

Moreover, Spain's economy depends heavily on tourism (over 13% of GDP), which intensifies conflicts over resource allocation and local quality of life, especially as international visitors stay longer and spend more than local tourists who find it increasingly unaffordable to vacation domestically.

In contrast, while France faces overtourism challenges too—evident in strain on landmarks like the Louvre and infrastructure—its larger population base and more diversified tourist distribution lessen the relative intensity of impact on local communities.

Despite these challenges, Spain offers a variety of activities and destinations, including skiing, hiking, wine tours, and UNESCO World Heritage sites, but these may not be as well-known to tourists. Forty-two percent of Spanish towns are at risk of depopulation, potentially benefiting from income and increased services generated by tourism.

France, on the other hand, has big tourist destinations like Provence and the Loire Valley located inland, attracting a different type of tourists compared to Spain, with fewer party/drinking holidays and a higher proportion of independent travel agencies. Since 2014, France has averaged 77.8 million international tourists per year.

In 2024, France broke the 100 million visitor ceiling, making it the most visited country in the world. The interior of France remains too hot in the summers and experiences very cold, harsh winters, causing most people to prefer living along the coastlines. However, this uneven population distribution in Spain contributes to France's tourism industry appearing more balanced, as 60% of Spain's population lives in coastal areas.

In an effort to address these issues, the Spanish Tourism Board has been promoting sustainable destinations and more inland tourism. Meanwhile, some popular tourist destinations in France, such as Paris, Mont-Saint-Michel, and the Calanques national park, have had to implement visitor caps to control numbers.

Despite the challenges, both countries continue to attract tourists, offering unique experiences and cultural richness to visitors from around the globe.

1. The housing crisis in Spain, fueled by short-term rentals like Airbnb, has resulted in a decrease in housing availability for locals, leading to protests over rising prices and a shift towards tourist-oriented businesses in urban centers, such as Barcelona.
2. While France faces overtourism challenges, particularly in landmarks like the Louvre and certain infrastructure, its larger population base and more diversified tourist distribution reduce the relative intensity of impact on local communities compared to Spain.
3. In an attempt to mitigate overtourism, Spain is promoting sustainable destinations and encouraging more inland tourism, while popular tourist destinations in France, like Paris, Mont-Saint-Michel, and the Calanques national park, have implemented visitor caps to control tourist numbers.

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