Explore the rise in Spain’s real estate market as tourist apartment stays increase by 11.2% in January, signaling a robust travel recovery.
In January, the Spanish non-hotel tourist accommodation sector experienced a notable surge, with overnight stays in tourist apartments soaring by an impressive 11.2%. This uptick contributed to a total of over 6.7 million overnight stays across various forms of non-hotel lodging, including campsites, rural tourism accommodations, and hostels, marking a year-on-year increase of 5.9%, as reported by the National Statistical Institute (INE).
Delving deeper into the data, it becomes evident that while the allure of apartments captivated many, the occupancy rates in campsites saw a slight decline of 0.3%. Rural tourism accommodations also faced challenges, with a decrease of 1.6%, and hostels experienced a staggering drop of 21.2%. Interestingly, the dynamics of resident versus non-resident travelers revealed a contrasting narrative: overnight stays by residents fell by 7.1%, while non-residents exhibited a robust increase of 10.5%. The average duration of stay per traveler was recorded at 5.4 nights.
Moreover, the Tourist Apartment Price Index (Ipap) reflected a 7.4% increase in January compared to the same month in 2024, while the Campsite Price Index (Ipac) and the Rural Tourism Price Index (Iptr) rose by 7.2% and 9.8%, respectively. This indicates a burgeoning demand for these accommodations, despite the fluctuations in occupancy rates.
The Canary Islands emerged as the crown jewel of apartment stays, boasting over 2.8 million overnight visits and a remarkable year-on-year increase of 20.9%. The occupancy rate for available accommodations reached 32%, a 1.9% rise from January 2024, with weekend occupancy peaking at 34.5%. Notably, a staggering 82.3% of these overnight stays were attributed to non-resident travelers, with the United Kingdom leading as the primary source market, accounting for 25.5% of the total.
Gran Canaria stood out as the most favored destination within the Canary Islands, attracting over 1.2 million overnight stays, while Lanzarote achieved the highest occupancy rate for apartments at an impressive 90.3%. The most popular tourist spots included Mogán, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, and Arona.
Conversely, the campsite sector faced headwinds, with overnight stays declining by 0.3% compared to January 2024. The resident demographic saw a significant drop of 17.5%, while non-resident stays increased by 4.9%. The occupancy rate for campsites was recorded at 44.2%, a decrease of 3.1% year-on-year, with weekend occupancy slightly higher at 45.1%. Germany emerged as the leading source market for campsite stays, contributing 39.4% of the total.
In the realm of rural tourism, Castilla y León was the preferred destination, despite a 7.8% decline in overnight stays. Overall, rural tourism accommodations experienced a 1.6% decrease in overnight stays compared to January 2024, with resident stays increasing by 1.5% while non-resident stays fell by 11.3%. The occupancy rate for rural accommodations stood at a modest 9.5%, with the Pyrenees emerging as a favored area, recording over 24,000 overnight stays.
While the Spanish non-hotel tourist accommodation sector displayed resilience and growth in certain areas, it also faced challenges that reflect the complex interplay of resident and non-resident travel patterns, pricing dynamics, and regional preferences.
