According to the latest statistics from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE), as of May 2026, Spain’s tourist accommodation market is experiencing an adjustment, though its uneven geographical distribution remains a prominent feature.
Overall Market Shrinks, Total Drops to 341,000 Units
Data shows that there are a total of 341,001 registered tourist accommodations in Spain, a decrease of 10.7% compared to the same period last year. These properties for tourist use account for 1.28% of the country’s total housing stock. Despite the overall decline in numbers, tourist housing remains highly concentrated in several key areas, including major cities, coastal zones, and traditional island vacation destinations.
Regional Distribution: Andalusia Leads in Number, Canary Islands Have the Highest Density
At the autonomous community level, the distribution of tourist housing shows significant disparities. In absolute numbers, the Autonomous Community of Andalusia ranks first in the country with 90,649 units, making it the region with the most tourist accommodations. It is followed by Catalonia and the Valencian Community, with similar numbers of around 51,000 units each. Among the island regions, the Canary Islands have 48,000 units, and the Balearic Islands also have a considerable number.
However, the picture changes when looking at the proportion of tourist housing relative to the total local housing stock. The Canary Islands top the list with 4.44%, indicating a high dependency on tourist accommodation. The Balearic Islands follow at 3.27%, with Andalusia next at 1.94%. Regions such as Cantabria, Valencia, Catalonia, and Asturias also have proportions exceeding 1%.
Cities and Towns: Concentration in Large Cities, High Dependency in Some Small Towns
At the city level, Madrid leads the nation with 10,836 tourist accommodations, followed by top tourist cities such as Málaga, Barcelona, Seville, and Marbella. This indicates that demand for tourist lodging remains concentrated in these key transportation and cultural hubs.
Meanwhile, some smaller towns show more extreme figures in terms of the proportion of tourist housing. Data reveals that in some towns, the proportion of tourist accommodations reaches as high as 33.33%. Furthermore, places like La Oliva, Roncesvalles, and Yaiza all have proportions exceeding 20%. These figures highlight the deep integration of some small communities’ economies with the tourism industry.
Varying Declines Across Regions, Madrid Leads the Drop
Against the backdrop of a general decline in tourist housing nationwide, the rate of decrease varies unevenly across autonomous communities. The Community of Madrid recorded the most significant drop, with a sharp year-on-year decrease of 27.6%. The Region of Murcia also experienced a substantial decline of 19.6%. Notably, La Rioja was the only region to see growth, with a slight year-on-year increase of 0.8%.
Overall, although the total number of tourist accommodations in Spain is decreasing, the pressure they exert on the real estate markets of specific areas—particularly large cities, islands, and small towns highly dependent on tourism—cannot be ignored.
