Spain's tourism surge pushes Barcelona housing costs higher as A Coruña sees short‑term rental decline

Hotel occupancy in Barcelona reached a record 88.6% in May 2026, driven by visitors from the United Kingdom, France and Germany and boosted by events such as the papal visit, a Formula 1 race and music festivals. The tourism boom is linked to rising housing prices, gentrification, strain on public services and 75% of the city’s CO₂ emissions, according to the Barcelona Neighbourhood Association.

In the north‑west city of A Coruña, short‑term tourist apartments recorded 315,106 overnight stays in 2025, a 15% drop from the previous year and representing 22.3% of total nights. Hotel stays remained stable, and the decline follows new municipal regulations introduced in June 2025 aimed at curbing the rapid growth of tourist rentals.