Have the anti-tourism protestors won? British tourists are ‘increasingly opting to holiday away from Spain’ - CSN

Has the antitourism protestors gained a victory? British tourists are ‘increasingly opting to holiday away from Spain’ – CSN

Louise Brown April 17, 2025 Travel Leave a comment

According to a new study, brits are increasingly shunning Spain for other European destinations after months of antitourism demonstrations and tightening of regulations.

One Sure Insurance’s analysis shows that Amsterdam has overtaken Spain in the UK as the top holiday destination. British tourists search for 42,000 flights per month to the Dutch capital.

The dramatic change comes after mass protests in several Spanish hotspots, where protesters accused speculators and tourist apartments of driving housing costs up to unaffordable rates.

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The recent protests in Spain have been blamed by British tourists for making them reconsider their holiday plans in Spain.

The protests in the country were largely sparked by anger against mass tourism.

Spain’s new regulations restricting drinking, smoking and vaping on public beaches in tourist areas have dampened UK’s love affair with Spanish holidays.

One Sure Insurance spokesperson said: “We are seeing an increase in adventurous travellers looking to explore places beyond the usual hotspots.”

The British are looking for alternatives to travel abroad and consider stayingcations.

Budapest, Krakow, Athens, and other cities are seeing an increase in British tourists seeking alternative sun breaks. Edinburgh, meanwhile, has moved up to the fourth spot in the rankings. This reflects a growing interest in domestic tourism.

READ MORE ‘No more talking!’: Mass uprising in Spain as over 40 cities set to protest the housing crisis – while property prices break new record

Flight searches show that Amsterdam is the most popular destination for Brits. According to flight searches, Amsterdam is the most popular destination for Brits.

The news is likely to be a big blow for Spain’s tourism sector, which historically has relied heavily on British tourists.

In 2024, UK tourists were the leading international market with 18.4 million arrivals – significantly ahead of French and German visitors, who numbered 13 and 12 million respectively.

And the Brits spent over €22.6 billion in Spain in 2024, up 13.5% from 2023, and more than double what the French spent, making them the top spenders among all nationalities

Tourists make up approximately 12% (or a little more) of Spain’s Gross Domestic Product. British tourists are a major contributor to this, particularly when it comes to popular areas with expats, like Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca.

READ MORE Malaga prepares for new protests. Thousands will march to protest the surge in tourist apartment prices

The trend raises concerns about the possibility that the vocal antitourism protests which took place earlier this year in Barcelona and Mallorca as well as the Canary Islands, could end up harming the very economies the protesters claimed to be protecting.

One Sure Insurance’s spokesperson said that Brits are increasingly choosing cities for their holidays, which not only offer history and culture but also an exciting new experience.