Benidorm bucks Spain’s anti-tourism trend and welcomes Brits | Travel News | Travel

With a reputation as the ultimate ‘Brits abroad’ destination, Benidorm is bucking the trend and ditching the anti-tourism sentiment that has made its way across Spain in recent months.

This year the country adored by British holidaymakers has been plagued with overtourism protests, particularly in the archipelagos of the Balearics and the Canaries as well as in the mainland cities of Barcelona and Malaga, among the locations most visited by tourists.

Despite this, more Brits than ever are packing their suitcases and heading off for some sun, sea and fun in Benidorm.

The popular tourism destination is renowned for its crazy nightlife and famous British strip, with it “selling out even quicker for next year”, according to Frank Kennedy.

Frank “The Stag Man”, who posts on TikTok as @frankthestagman, claims that Benidorm’s main source of income is tourism and “too many people would lose their jobs if tourism dropped”.

Ditching the UK for cheap pints, Frank lives in the city where he organises stag and hen dos with his partner Jade Benidorm.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk he said: “There are no dramas or issues here, people haven’t been put off by the protests. We haven’t seen any anti-tourism feeling here apart from on the news.

“Benidorm’s main thing is tourism, which is our main selling point and source of income, all businesses here are connected to tourism.

“Places like Barcelona don’t rely on tourism but Benidorm does.

“My partner and I feel 100 percent comfortable here, it’s friendly and there is no hostility.”

“Thriving” Benidorm may be one of the few Spanish cities wanting more tourists with it welcoming more and more people every year.

As the third Spanish city with the most hotel beds, after Madrid and Barcelona, tourism is a major source of income for Benidorm and the party resort would likely be hugely impacted if tourists turned their noses up at it.

Benidorm, Spain, saw 2,766,366 tourists in 2023, a 3.8 percent increase from 2019. In 2023, 832,115 British tourists visited Benidorm, making them the second largest market after Spaniards.

“Benidorm as a holiday destination is thriving. When you look at the strip, nearly every bar there has been refurbished, so the money to do that must have come from somewhere and tourists are spending more than ever in the area”, said Frank.

Frank added: “I always sum up Benidorm as sun, sea and stag. It may be a bit of a wild place but you’ve got some of the best beaches and best tribute acts in the world.

“It’s like a big club, people come back here over and over again. You can spend three nights here for as cheap as £150.”