While Catalonia welcomes an increasing number of international tourists, domestic travel and day trips by Catalans within the region have fallen by 25.6% compared to 2019. Data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), compiled by ARA, indicate a 19.1% reduction in trips and a 28.3% decrease in day excursions.
Overall, the total number of trips made by Catalans, regardless of destination, has decreased by 9.3%, although overnight stays away from home have increased by 3.4%. These figures encompass all journeys of more than one day, from weekend getaways in Empordà to organized trips to China. "Catalans are traveling less than before, but if traveling means spending time away from home, we are not traveling less. We are traveling differently," summarizes Josep Reyner, president of the Catalan economics commission at the Col·legi d'Economistes de Catalunya (CEC).
Although travel within Catalonia remains the majority, there is an observed increase in departures abroad. In 2025, 16.5 million Catalans traveled within Catalonia, compared to 20 million foreigners and 5.8 million citizens from the rest of Spain. Anthropologist Elisenda Ardèvol (UOC) notes that tourism also involves "exploring one's own territories," which contributes to building identity.
Experts consulted point to the rising cost of tourist offerings in Catalonia as a key factor. Geographer Velislava Simeonova (University of Barcelona) warns that "the cost of tourism in Catalonia has been growing faster than the purchasing power of Catalans."
The daily spending of domestic tourists rose by almost 30% between 2019 and 2025 (around 88 euros per person), while that of foreigners increased by 12.21% (over 221 euros per capita), according to Idescat. This suggests that foreigners are engaging in more economical tourism, while Catalans who do travel are opting for more expensive products.
Reyner points to a "certain selection aspect," where lower-income Catalan households travel less within Catalonia. Ivan Murray, a doctor in geography from the University of Edinburgh, agrees that Catalans are traveling less due to this filtering by purchasing power.
Simeonova highlights that Catalans and foreigners "do not live in the same economy." Recently promoted markets, such as the US, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, have higher average incomes. Conversely, Catalan families experience "escaped demand" because "with the same budget, a family gets more outside Catalonia than within."
In Tossa de Mar, 58% of visitors are from nearby (Spanish) and 42% are foreign. Despite being the majority, international visitors' spending more than doubled that of Spanish visitors last year. The City Council is working to "convert day-trippers into tourists" and strengthen local tourism, although international visitors "structurally sustain the accommodation economy and spending."
Between 2019 and 2025, the prices of Catalan tourist services rose 14.3% more than the general CPI. The increased cost of basic products like food and housing particularly affects low-income households, who have reduced their spending on transport, restaurants, and accommodation more significantly.
The high-end hotel supply has gained prominence in Catalonia, increasing from 47.41% to 56.93% of available beds between 2015 and the present. 18,332 places have been lost in establishments up to four stars, while 43,494 have been added in those with four stars or more, indicating a shift in the tourism model.
Josep-Francesc Valls (Esade, UPF-BSM) argues that the "too cheap" tourist prices of the 1970s have given way to a model attracting clients with greater spending capacity. Murray, however, warns of a "dispute between territories" competing for tourists through fiscal policies.
The decline in tourism has been felt across the region. The Costa Daurada and Terres de l'Ebre are the most affected (-12.67%), followed by the area around Barcelona (-11.47%). The city of Barcelona maintains a better level, with a decrease of 4.91%.
The reduction in travel by Catalans is also widespread, with notable drops in Barcelona (-21.5%), Palafrugell (-32.4%), and Torroella de Montgrí (-38.2%). Ardèvol warns that the decline in domestic tourism is not just an economic issue but "a loss of emotional connection by the citizenry" with their own country.
