Solar eclipse boosts Spanish rural tourism and foreign spending

The solar eclipse on August 12 significantly boosted tourism and spending in Spain, particularly in rural areas with maximum visibility. According to BBVA Research, foreign tourist spending in provinces where the eclipse had 100% coverage grew by 25.7% year-on-year. This was nearly 12 percentage points higher than the spending increase seen in the rest of the country.

In specific provinces, the impact was even more pronounced. Soria led the growth with a 220.1% increase in foreign spending. Other notable increases occurred in La Rioja (106.2%), Asturias (88.7%), Segovia (83.1%), and Teruel (79%).

The Spanish Association of Rural Tourism (Asetur) reported that occupancy rates reached 100% in León, Palencia, and Soria, while Segovia and Valladolid reached 92%. However, Asetur president Pedro Carreño noted that recent wildfires negatively impacted certain areas within the visibility zone, leading to cancellations and hindering the potential economic benefits in those specific regions.