In the fourth quarter of 2024, residents in Spain made a total of 38.4 million trips, representing a 7.9% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Domestic travel saw a sharper decline (-8.8%), while trips abroad only slightly decreased (-0.5%).
Reasons for travel and accommodation
Leisure, recreation, and vacation trips fell by 9.9%.
Visits to family and friends dropped by 6.9%.
Business and professional trips decreased by 14.2%, while trips for other reasons increased by 13.9%.
For domestic trips, staying at family or friends’ homes declined by 13.6%, while for international trips, hotel stays fell by 2.3%.
Top destinations and most frequent travelers
The most visited regions were Andalusia (15.8%), Catalonia (11.9%), and Madrid (9.9%).
Regarding the origin of trips, Madrid led with 17%, followed by Catalonia (16.4%) and Andalusia (16.1%).
When adjusting for population size, the most frequent travelers were residents of the Basque Country (936 trips per 1,000 inhabitants), Navarre (924), and Castile and León (918).
Travel spending
Total travel expenditure in the fourth quarter amounted to €12.15 billion, a 3.1% decline from 2023.
Spending on domestic trips fell by 5.7%, while spending on international travel increased by 1.5%.
The average daily expenditure was €95:
€76 for domestic trips.
€153 for trips abroad.
By destination, the highest daily expenditures were recorded in Madrid (€110/day), Balearic Islands (€104), and Canary Islands (€93).
Annual trends
Throughout 2024, Spanish residents made 184.4 million trips, a 0.8% decline compared to 2023.
Domestic travel decreased by 2.3%, while international trips grew by 12.1%.
Total travel expenditure for the year increased by 5.9%, reaching €62.23 billion.
Source: INE