Tourists are said to be going elsewhere
09:29, 08 Sep 2025Updated 20:21, 08 Sep 2025
(Image: David Soanes Photography via Getty Images)
A once-bustling Spanish city loved by British tourists is now “dead”, as UK visitors appear to have abandoned the destination for other holiday spots.
This represents yet another example of Spain witnessing unprecedented quietness this year, with online footage showing completely deserted streets.
Laura, who goes by lauratravelvlogs on TikTok, has been chronicling the stark changes in Barcelona, where she has lived for more than two years.
She said she has noticed a significant drop in tourist numbers and has been sharing videos of the city’s eerily empty streets, quiet roads and vacant beaches to highlight the dramatic shift in tourism patterns, reports Birmingham Live.
In a recent video showing remarkably peaceful roads leading to the coast, Laura said: “Sorry, no one can argue that these roads leading up to the beach were not packed in 2023?”
It appears others echo her observations about the decline in Spain’s usual vibrancy and bustle.
While some visitors continue to frequent popular destinations “for now”, Laura claims their spending has reached an “all time low”.
She’s noticed a marked difference over the past two years and remains amazed by how quiet the city has become.
In an earlier video, Laura highlighted the emptiness of the city centre during summer, attributing it to tourists feeling unwelcome.
She suggests that protests occurring across Spain have put people off visiting altogether. The clip has sparked a flood of reactions since appearing online, with watchers keen to share their views, which have proved markedly split.
One individual commented: “One by one businesses from all sectors will start to close – that’s the sad thing.”
Another added: “There’s already a lot of smaller towns that have fallen into despair.
“So many people have lost their jobs due to the drop in tourism. It’s madness – they’ll be begging people to go back in a few years.”
A third viewer replied: “Tourism in Spain is 40% down. The south coast of Spain was eerily quiet last week.”
Meanwhile, a fourth noted: “Spain is old news – there are far nicer countries to spend your money in.”
Some questioned the timing of the clip, suggesting it wasn’t completely grim.
One person recalled their March trip when there were “hundreds more” people around, despite some Britons describing the destination as “finished” for tourists.
Generally, accounts indicate that Spain has been abandoned by numerous visitors, with eateries and coastlines looking nearly deserted.
Parts of the country are experiencing a decline in visitor numbers for the first time since the pandemic, following years of anti-tourism protests by locals.
In August, images from Benidorm showed rows of empty chairs outside multiple bars and restaurants plus unusually quiet beaches.
This appears particularly remarkable for such popular holiday destinations during the summer months. Miguel Pérez-Marsá, the head of the nightlife association, previously told Majorca Daily Bulletin: “The tourists we’re interested in are being driven away; they don’t feel welcome and are going to other destinations.”
The impact is also being felt by tour guides.
Pedro Oliver, president of the College of Tour Guides, disclosed that bookings for excursions have plummeted by 20% this summer.
He stated: “If you generate negative news, which has repercussions in other countries, tourists opt for other destinations when choosing their holidays,” adding, “We are sending the message that we don’t want tourists and that everything is too crowded.”