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July 16, 2025

Tourism & Real Estate: Linked?

By Alfredo Bloy-Dawson

In 2024, Spain welcomed 94 million international tourists, making it the second most visited country in the world.

A significant portion of these tourists return to buy second homes or relocate permanently.

This creates economic benefits, but also pressures local housing markets. The Costa del Sol is a prime example, with one in three homes sold to foreigners.

The Costa del Sol specifically attracted 14.4 million visitors in 2024, generating over €21.2 billion in tourist spending.

According to Spain’s INE (National Statistics Institute), 5% of all tourists (about 4.6 million) in 2024 stayed in homes they owned in Spain – a clear sign of overlap between tourism and property ownership.

About the author

Alfredo Bloy‑Dawson is a seasoned real estate marketing consultant based in Marbella, Spain. Drawing on over a decade of experience, including seven years as Marketing Director at a leading Spanish real estate marketing agency, he now collaborates with top-tier real estate agencies, property developers, and property portals across Spain -most notably on the Costa del Sol - to craft marketing strategies.

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