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Have you ever wondered where your countrymen go when they arrive in Spain during the summer months?
A new interactive map, based upon overnight stays by tourists, allows us to determine which Spanish towns and city are the most popular for different nationalities. We can also see what these choices reveal about each of them.
The trends, from Brits tanning at the Costa Blanca all the way to Germans swarming Mallorca are as entertaining as they are revealing.
What can we learn from the top destinations of each group?
The Brits: Benidorm, Benidorm, and Beach
The numbers are no surprise: British tourists have a long-standing affinity for Spain’s coasts. A whopping 73% of overnight stays in Benidorm are by Brits, and Calvià (home to Magaluf) tops the list with over 441,000 British holidaymakers seeking sun, sand, and sambuca shots.
Barcelona and Alicante complete the list. Four of the top 10 destinations are on the Balearics. The Brits are looking for warmth, cheap beer and tapas. They want to avoid straying far from their fry-up.
Catalan neighbours, and coastal charm
The French focus on proximity and practicality when it comes to holidays in Spain. That means Catalunya. Six of their ten top destinations are in the area, with Barcelona as the number one destination.
La Jonquera and Roses are both popular, and ideal for a quick getaway. They also show love to the Basque Country with Irún and San Sebastián, and Baztan in Navarra sees 3 in 4 tourists arriving from France. If it’s close, has a beach, and maybe a decent boulangerie-adjacent café, the French are there.
Germans on Mallorca: a second-home for them
Mallorca isn’t just a place to go on holiday. It’s almost German territory in summer. Palma alone welcomed over 740,000 Germans. Six of the top ten Balearic Islands destinations are German. In many Mallorcan cities, Germans account for at least 40%.
They’ve also claimed a few sunny Canarian spots like Pájara and San Bartolomé de Tirajana, and of course, Barcelona and Madrid are on the list for culture seekers. If there is a beer at the beach, or a sunbed to be claimed with a bath towel by 6am, then Germans have probably already arrived.
The Dutch: Cycling, cities and hidden valleys
Dutch people can be found in unexpected places. The Dutch love big cities like Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, but are equally at home camping in remote Catalan valleys or hiking along the backroads of Girona.
Sant Pere Pescador has become their unofficial summer home, with nearly one-third of the tourists coming from The Netherlands. Torroella de Montgrí is another Dutch-heavy hub, and their fondness for Palma, Málaga, and Gran Canaria shows a taste for sun, but never without structure. The Dutch love anything outdoorsy and bicycle-friendly.
The Italians, Cities and Balearic Obsession
Italy is either a city getaway or a Balearic getaway, with very little in-between. Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia are the top three destinations with 250.000 visitors each. More than 40% of Italian summer tourists are headed straight to the islands. Formentera in particular is a popular destination, with 47% of all tourists. It’s not clear why this is, but it could be scooters, the clean sea, or a large number of Italian owned businesses.
Ibiza and Palma also draw a large number of Italians. Even Canary Island cities like Arona or Adeje attract many Italians. Italians are here for the beaches, vibes and style.
The Americans: city slickers abroad
Americans aren’t interested in obscure destinations. They go to the places that guidebooks recommend. Barcelona has the most US visitors with 440,000, followed by Madrid (330,000). Then, the numbers drop dramatically to Valencia, Palma and Sevilla. All three are around 40,000.
It’s clear they’re here for the big cultural hits – flamenco in Sevilla, art in Madrid, and Gaudi in Barcelona. Rota breaks this pattern. Over 46% of the tourists in Rota are Americans, most likely visiting family or friends of sailors.
The interactive map of RTVE is available. here.
Click here for more Spain News by The Olive Press.
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