For years and years, Spain has been a super popular holiday resort for Brits, but things may be starting to change. According to reports, some areas of the holiday hotspot have become super quiet, with one popular destination recently having been described as “dead.”
Benidorm, in Spain, is claimed to be “empty” by some tourists, as footage has emerged online showing the quiet streets. A social media user, known as yorkshirebargainhunter, recently shared a video on TikTok showing how different the resort looks, and people can’t get over it, as the hotspot has always been such a popular destination with British tourists.
Even though it’s peak holiday season, he said the streets in Spain are “empty”, and he thinks they should be full of people. According to him, Benidorm has transformed into an “absolute ghost town”, and other people also seem to agree.
He said: “If you’re in Benidorm right now, what do you think? Why do you think it’s so quiet? Why is nobody around? Even this bar here is fully shut down.
“We’re in the height of summer. Everywhere should be absolutely rammed, but it’s not. It’s absolutely dead. This is one of the main strips in Benidorm and it should be absolutely rammed.”
In the clip, the content creator said he thinks the change is due to protests that have taken place in Spain in recent months that have put people off visiting. Over 900 people offered their views on the matter too.
One person said: “They told us not to come. What did they expect?” Another wrote: “Spain stopped wanting tourists hence they might have gone elsewhere.”
A third replied: “August is always dead in Benidorm.” Some people had different experiences though and said the resort was “bouncing” when they visited.
Another person added: “I’m here now. It’s rammed – busiest I’ve seen Benidorm.” Someone else chimed in with: “We just came back from Benidorm and it was very busy.
“People were staying at the pools by day because it was so warm, but pubs were very busy at night.” One more added: “It’s busy at night, not the day time.”
Even though scenes appear quieter, travel operators still recommend the resort during summer. Thomas Cook, now an online travel agent, suggests August is the ideal time for beach lovers.
“The average temperature is a lovely 25°C and has been known to reach around 30°C,” they say, adding that the sea is at its warmest this time of year. While the party atmosphere may be more subdued in 2025, many agree Benidorm still has plenty to offer, just with a slightly different crowd and a higher price tag.
But, as well as this, it’s been reported that Spain has been abandoned by a lot of tourists, with restaurants and beaches seemingly almost empty. Parts of the country have been seeing a decline in visitor numbers for the first time since the pandemic, as well as years of anti-tourist protests by locals.
Earlier this month, pictures from Benidorm revealed a slew of empty chairs outside various bars and restaurants and rather quiet beaches. This is especially rare for huge tourist destinations during the summer months.
The head of the nightlife association, Miguel Pérez-Marsá, 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.” Tour guides are also feeling the pinch.
Pedro Oliver, president of the College of Tour Guides, revealed excursion sales have dropped by 20% this summer. “If you generate negative news, which has repercussions in other countries, tourists opt for other destinations when choosing their holidays,” he said. “We are sending the message that we don’t want tourists and that everything is too crowded.”