Else Beekman
The camping sector has become the big winner of tourism in Spain over the past year. Camping in Spain is becoming increasingly popular.
The choice is vast. Whether one wants to camp in Spain, they can choose from small simple nature campings to very large campings with swimming pools and extensive facilities. By the sea, by the water, in open plains, in the forests, or close to large cities. There’s something for everyone.
Campers are increasingly finding their way to Spanish campings. The number of overnight stays has risen enormously. This is confirmed by data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Over the past 10 years, Spanish campings have seen continuous growth in both overnight stays and domestic and international travelers. The global Covid crisis has further highlighted the great advantages of accommodation offerings in direct contact with nature.
Number of travelers and overnight stays at campings
The camping sector in Spain closed 2023 with a record of 9.9 million travelers. This number is 19.8% higher than the level of 2019. Compared to 2022, it represents a growth of 4.7%. Last year, the number of overnight stays exceeded 47.2 million, 16.1% more than in 2019 and 5.3% more than in 2022.
According to the Spanish Federation of Campings (FEEC), the growth is firstly reflected in the official data. But also in ‘the growing importance of campings within the tourism sector’, in their contribution to the national GDP. Finally, there is more attention to campings within tourist organizations and government services.
Role of campings
Similarly, the FEEC emphasized that the camping sector plays an important role in the main tourism fairs, both national (Fitur) and international. The president of the FEEC, Ana Beriaín, highlighted that these data for 2023 are the definitive proof that the sector has an undeniable and unstoppable importance within tourism in Spain. ‘It has been decades of continuous effort and work to show what entrepreneurs in the sector are capable of. But we are not yet satisfied. We will continue to grow and convince thousands of families who have never set foot in one of our campings to discover what 10 million people enjoyed last year,’ she emphasized.
Also read: Campsites in Spain are more than 90 percent occupied this summer.