The arrival of international tourists has been declining for three consecutive months.

BarcelonaThe arrival of international tourists to Catalonia has been steadily slowing for months. The post-pandemic euphoria propelled the sector to figures that seem difficult to replicate. Now, hotels are seeing bookings slow, with fewer foreign travelers this summer compared to last, and shorter stays. In September, Catalonia received approximately 2.02 million international tourists, a figure representing a 1.4% drop compared to the same month last year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) published this Friday.

This trend continues the one seen throughout most of the summer season, with declines in August (-4.3%), the peak holiday month, and also in July (-1.2%). This marks three consecutive months of decline, a situation not seen since the start of the pandemic. June held up, albeit modestly, with growth of 0.1%, while May saw a 5.6% drop, breaking a four-year streak of continuous growth.

A slight slowdown compared to previous years, but one that residents of tourist destinations packed to capacity during the summer months, such as the towns of the Costa Brava and the city of Barcelona, haven't noticed too much. It's worth noting that the tourist season – which runs from March to October – in 2023 and 2024 was very strong, with significant year-over-year increases, which explains why the figures for 2025 are more modest.

Despite these declines, Catalonia remains the autonomous community that received the most international tourists during the first nine months of the year, with 15.8 million, ahead of the Balearic Islands (13.71 million), Andalusia (11.53 million), and the Canary Islands (11.4 million). However, these figures also show that Catalonia is moderating, with zero growth compared to the same period last year, while the other regions have grown, with 3% more in the Balearic Islands, 7.3% more in Andalusia, and 4% more in the Canary Islands. This means that the sector as a whole in Spain is still experiencing an expansionary trend. Between January and September, the country received 76.45 million foreign visitors, 3.5% more compared to the same months in 2014. This is the highest figure on record by the INE (National Institute of Statistics), which has been collecting data since 2015. Furthermore, accumulated foreign tourist spending exceeded €100 million for the first time. But the sector at the national level is also beginning to show the first signs of slowing down, with much weaker monthly growth than last year. Fewer vacation days

The tourism sector is not only seeing its international arrivals reach their peak, but is also beginning to notice tourists taking shorter vacations. This decision is largely due to the exorbitant prices hotels have become accustomed to offering, prices that have become unaffordable for many, with rooms costing €200 a night in the Catalan capital. Both August and September saw shorter stays in Catalonia compared to the same period last year, with decreases of 1% and 4.4%, respectively. With vacations averaging between five and six days, the drop in spending hasn't yet materialized, but it will in the short term unless prices continue to rise. This is especially true in the city of Barcelona. The arrival of American tourists is slowing downThis is one of the highest-spending groups. For the time being, hotel room prices in Catalonia remained frozen during August, yet another sign that the tourism industry has lost momentum.