Spain | Solar eclipse boosts foreign spending

Summary

The total solar eclipse on August 12 boosted spending by foreign tourists in Spain—particularly in provinces where the phenomenon was most visible—suggesting a shift in tourism toward key viewing destinations. In contrast, spending by domestic travelers was not significantly affected.

Key points

• Key points:
• During the week of August 10–16, in-person spending by foreigners rose by 25.7% year-on-year in provinces with 100% eclipse coverage, a rate far exceeding that observed in preceding days.
• Soria (+220.1%), La Rioja (+106.2%), and Asturias (+88.7%) led this year-on-year growth, followed by Segovia, Teruel, León, and Zaragoza.
• While spending surged in areas with the highest coverage, it remained in line with—or even below—levels from previous weeks in areas with lower visibility, indicating that foreign travelers prioritized destinations offering the best views of the eclipse.
• Consequently, spending in provinces with 99%–100% coverage grew by 18.5%, compared to 11.9% in those with 95%–98% coverage, 5.7% in those with 80%–94% coverage, and 7.3% in those with the lowest coverage.
• Conversely, in-person spending by BBVA customers outside their usual province of residence (a proxy for domestic tourism) showed no distinct positive trend during the week of the eclipse compared to prior periods.

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