If you have the feeling that hotels are more expensive than ever in Spain, the data is right

If you have the impression that hotels are more expensive than ever, no, they are not your impressions. As the sector grows in Spain and the flow of foreign tourists reaches record levelsanother key indicator for accommodations also rebound: prices. Grow. At a good pace. Above Even inflation. And do so coinciding with A boom of the tourist floors that has already led to the administration to take action by Its impact In the residential offer.

The data are of course revealing.

A fact: 94 million. 2024 was a good year for Spanish tourism. Or at least this is reflected by the data handled by the Government, which in January He checked Due to the figures harvested by the sector: throughout 2024 the country received about 94 million foreign visitors, a record balance that exceeds the data of 2023 by 10% and arrived accompanied by a 16% rebound in spending, which in counting and sound money translates into around 126,000 million of euros.

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism Trust In addition, the streak is maintained in 2025. Its estimates suggest that during the first four -month period will receive 26 million tourists, 9% more than last year, with an even more pronounced rise in spending. Things are somewhat different if we talk about the trips of residents in Spain, than in The third quarter Of 2024 they suffered a slight fall.

And prices? The flow of tourists imports, but it also matters the evolution of prices in hotels. And the INE data are in that case even clearer: the so -called daily average rate (ADR), which shows the daily average income obtained by occupied room, has grown at a good pace in the last years.

The data varies depending on the month (as does the flow of tourists), but if we take as a reference August the progression is clearly appreciated: in 2024 it was 146.9 euros, in 2023 of 136.8 and before the pandemic, in 2019, it was at 109.3. In December it was 117, the largest ADR at the end of one year.

Are there more clues? Yes. The income by available room and what the INE calls “Hotel price indices” (Iph). The latter is an interesting clue because it shows the evolution of prices that apply to customers housed in hotels, from the optics of the offer and including both normal rates and those charged on weekends in professional circuits, such as Turoperadores, large groups and companies.

In December 2024, the iPph was 144.8 compared to 137 of the same month of 2023 and 109.7 of 2019, just before the pandemic. In general, it is the highest indicator for a year closure of the entire historical series, which starts in 2002. In its analysis, the INE takes into account all LPS Hotels, from the most basic to the five stars.

Going down even more in detail. A few days ago economist Ángel Talavera shared in X A series of data of Oxford Economics and Hover Analytics that help to better understand how hotels prices in Spain have evolved over the last five years. Specifically, it indicates the last rise in the rates, but above all its increase with respect to those charged before COVID-19. “Already almost 40% above prepandymia prices, which represents 20% more expensive by adjusting for inflation,” Precise The expert.

Your data They reflect an increase in income from available room even greater, of almost 50%, and they arrive accompanied by some interesting reflections, such as the businesses that rise most are precisely those most expensive and cheapest, standing out with respect to intermediate accommodations.

Comparing with the CPI. Another of the keys indicated by Talavera is the evolution of the cost of accommodation with respect to the evolution of IPC and the differences between them. The expert appreciates a clear “decoupling” Since mid -2022, with a significantly higher increase in hotel prices.

The data The Ministry of Industry and Tourism also help to get an idea of ​​the evolution of the General Price Index and the specific tourism and hospitality. The trend is especially interesting in recent years, coinciding with the rise in rates in accommodations, largely driven by destinations such as Marbella or Ibiza, with historical prices.

And what are the reasons? There are several keys. The economist points out an especially interesting: the double speed at which national and abroad tourism progresses. The data of Hotel occupation The INE shows that while the second grew 8.2%, that of the residents experienced a slight fall. TO

The less at the country’s lodging receptions its number decreased 0.7%. Among the foreigners, the arrivals of the United Kingdom, Germany or France, countries with a per capita income higher than the Spanish.

Over the last years the sector has also been marked by The boom of holiday rental, which has already forced the administration (both The central as at the level regional and local) to move file to control its impact on the residential market. The INE also shows how the Price index Tourist apartments has increased sensitively.

Images | Martijn vonk (Unspash) and Segitur

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