The Flexible Accommodation sector in Spain shows a positive trend, especially for tourist flats.. According to recent data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the overnight stays in non-hotel tourist accommodation exceeded 6.7 million in Januarywhich represents a increase of 5.9% per annum. This overall growth is driven mainly by the a significant increase in overnight stays in tourist flats, which rose by 11.21 p.p.3Q3T. compared to the same month of the previous year.
This increase in demand for holiday flats underlines the growing preference for self-catering options. Flexible accommodation offering greater independence and services. The analysis of the data reveals that this increase is mainly due to the foreign tourism, as non-resident overnight stays in flats increased by 14.61 p.p.3Q3Twhile those of residents fell by 2.21 p.p.p.3T. In fact, at the general level in extra-hotel accommodation, non-resident overnight stays increased by 10.51 Tbp3T, while those of residents decreased by 7.11 Tbp3T.
The flexibility of accommodation in tourist flats is also reflected in the average stay, which in this type of accommodation rose by 4.91 ppt3T, reaching 6.2 overnight stays per traveller.. This indicates that holiday flat users tend to stay slightly longer, seeking a more immersive experience that is more adaptable to their needs.
It is important to note that The Canary Islands was positioned as the preferred destination for accommodation in flats, with more than 2.8 million overnight stays and a year-on-year increase of 20.9%.. In addition, the Canary Islands recorded the highest occupancy, with 87.3% of the flats on offer occupied.. Within the Canary Islands, the island of Gran Canaria and tourist spots such as Mogán and San Bartolomé de Tirajana were particularly popular.
In terms of prices, the The Tourist Apartment Price Index (Ipap) rose by 7.4% in January. compared to the same month in 2024. This increase in prices may be a reflection of growing demand and the perceived value offered by holiday flats as a flexible accommodation option.
While tourist flats show strong growth, other types of flexible accommodation within the non-hotel sector presented different dynamics. The Overnight stays in campsites decreased by 0.31 p.p.3T3TThe number of non-residents increased by 4.91 bp3 QoQ. The Comunidad Valenciana was the preferred destination for campsitesreaching the highest occupancy rate. On the other hand, the Overnight stays in rural tourism accommodation also fell by 1.6%despite a slight increase in overnight stays by residents. Castilla y León was the most popular destination for rural tourism.although the Canary Islands achieved the highest occupancy.
In conclusion, the market for Flexible accommodation in Spain shows a remarkable dynamism, with a strong momentum in the tourist flat sector.driven mainly by demand from non-resident travellers. This growth underlines the importance of accommodation options that offer flexibility, independence and an experience tailored to the individual needs of travellers.
You can find out more about industry data and trends at the Vitur Summit.
Source: Ejeprime
