Holidays remain out of reach for millions of Spaniards

Spain is expected to break new tourism records this summer, but one in three residents cannot afford to spend a week away from home on holiday.

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Between June and September, the country expects to receive around 43 million international tourists, 6% more than in the same period of 2025, with spending close to 64 billion euros, according to Turespaña’s forecasts, the agency under the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

The contrast is highlighted by the 2025 Living Conditions Survey from the National Statistics Institute (INE): 32.2% of the population could not afford to go away from home on holiday for at least one week a year. Although the percentage fell by 1.2 points compared with 2024, taking a break remains out of reach for a considerable share of Spanish households.

Speaking to Euronews, Ileana Izverniceanu, Communications Director at the Spanish Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), warns that this situation cannot be explained only by the rising cost of travel. “The fact that one in three Spaniards cannot go on holiday this summer is not an isolated event, but the reflection of an economic reality that OCU has been observing for years,” she says.

According to the organisation’s holiday survey, 27% of Spaniards say they will not go on holiday and a further 8% still do not know whether they will be able to, something Izverniceanu sees as “a clear sign of the economic uncertainty many households are experiencing”.

This situation also appears in the OCU Family Solvency Index, which assesses families’ financial capacity every year. The indicator has improved slightly in recent years and now stands at 47.4 points, but it is still far below pre-pandemic levels.

“On paper, the economy is improving, but many families still do not feel that recovery in their day-to-day lives,” the OCU spokesperson tells Euronews.

Essential expenses crowd out holidays

Housing, food and utilities continue to absorb a large part of household income. According to data provided by OCU to Euronews, 45% of families struggle to cover housing-related costs, including rent, mortgage payments and bills such as electricity, gas and water.

The situation is even more complicated for those living in rented accommodation: almost one in two tenants has difficulty paying the rent.

Food is also putting pressure on family finances. Some 42% of households have problems affording their food shopping, especially basic products such as meat and fish. On top of this are other everyday outgoings: 48% struggle to cover motoring costs, 46% to pay the dentist, and 36% to meet energy bills.

“Against this backdrop, it is hardly surprising that holidays become one of the first expenses many families cut from their budget,” Izverniceanu says.

OCU estimates that 52% of households find it difficult or very difficult to afford the cost of a holiday. Families that do manage to travel are also adjusting their plans: they cut the number of days away, choose closer destinations, look for cheaper accommodation or limit their spending on leisure.

The organisation’s survey puts the average cost of a beach holiday per family at 1,555 euros. A trip abroad comes to 2,327 euros, while spending a few days back in the village involves average outlays of 665 euros. “For many families, these amounts are simply unaffordable,” the OCU spokesperson says.

The inability to save makes the situation worse. Some 69% of households surveyed by the organisation say they find it hard to set aside part of their income, so planning an exceptional expense such as a holiday may force them to compromise other basic payments.

“When most of the budget goes on housing, food, energy or transport, taking a break inevitably slips down the list of priorities,” Izverniceanu explains.

Economic hardship is not limited to holidays. The Living Conditions Survey shows that 36.4% of the population was unable to cope with unforeseen expenses in 2025, up from 35.8% the previous year. In addition, 8.5% said they were making ends meet with “great difficulty”.

The share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion stood at 25.7% in 2025, one tenth of a point lower than a year earlier. The rate of severe material and social deprivation also fell slightly, from 8.3% to 8.1%.

These indicators coexist with upbeat prospects for international tourism. In addition to the 43 million visitors expected this summer, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism forecasts that spending by foreign tourists will increase by 10% compared with the same period in 2025, outpacing the anticipated growth in arrivals.

‘Holidays should not be seen as a luxury’

For OCU, being unable to enjoy a few days of rest should not be normalised as an inevitable consequence of economic difficulties. “Holidays should not be regarded as a luxury, but as an important part of physical and mental wellbeing and of family work-life balance,” Izverniceanu tells Euronews.

The organisation is calling for measures to ease the cost of living, especially in areas such as housing, energy and food. It also recommends planning trips in advance, comparing prices, checking the terms and conditions of bookings, and using secure platforms and payment systems.

However, the OCU spokesperson insists that these tips are not enough for households that can barely cover their essential needs: “We must not lose sight of reality: for a growing number of families the problem is no longer finding cheaper holidays, but being able to afford them.”