Tight budgets and a wave of rising prices, influenced in part by waves of tourism, are making it harder for Spanish and Italian families to afford their usual beach time.
With most of Spain’s almost 100 million visitors focused on its beaches and a few big cities, many Spanish families have found themselves priced out of beaches and turning to other destinations or cutting out vacations altogether. Last year, Spain’s top 25 Mediterranean and Atlantic coast destinations saw local tourism plummet by 800,000 people, while foreign visitor numbers surged by 1.94 million.
In Italy, many beach areas are reporting 15 to 25% drops in weekday attendance compared to last year. Many of the same factors are involved, but there are also complaints that the price of renting loungers and umbrellas at the beach have gon through the roof, reaching as much as €212 for an umbrella and two loungers, up 17% from four years ago. Along with high living costs, the beach becomes a luxury.
