Spain’s Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, used a visit to the inland city of Palencia on 8 January to unveil a four-pillar plan aimed at defusing over-tourism in coastal hotspots such as Barcelona, Mallorca and San Sebastián. The blueprint— “de-concentrate, diversify, de-seasonalise and digitalise” — seeks to redirect at least 10 % of the country’s record 91.5 million international visitors toward lesser-known heritage towns and natural parks by 2028.
The government will channel €1.2 billion from EU Recovery funds and the national Sustainable Tourism Plan into rail links, heritage-site upgrades and smart-destination platforms operated by SEGITTUR. Pilot projects will begin this spring in Castilla-y-León, Extremadura and Aragón, regions that have long complained that mass tourism’s economic benefits bypass them.
For travellers eager to explore these up-and-coming regions—or for companies relocating events inland—VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. The online service (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) provides real-time guidance on Schengen tourist and business visas, Spain’s new digital-nomad permits, and group documentation, enabling mobility planners to focus on venues and logistics instead of consular queues.
![Spain launches strategy to steer tourists inland and extend travel beyond the summer]()
For business-travel and mobility programmes the shift matters because it changes the geography of meetings and incentives (MICE). Inland cities such as Valladolid and Zaragoza are positioning themselves as alternative conference hosts with lower venue costs and generous municipal grants. Hotels in those markets report forward group bookings up 18 % year-on-year, according to data analyst STR.
Policy analysts say the strategy is also a response to mounting social pressure. Barcelona has already pledged to phase out 10,000 licensed holiday apartments by 2028, while the Balearic Islands are capping cruise arrivals. By spreading demand, Madrid hopes to reduce housing inflation and public-service strain in saturated areas without sacrificing the tourism receipts that contributed €126.7 billion in 2025.
Success, however, will hinge on coordination between central and municipal authorities. Critics warn that smaller cities could face their own housing crunch if regulations and enforcement do not keep pace. Corporate-mobility managers should watch local permit regimes and accommodation availability when scheduling large relocations or off-sites in emerging destinations.
The government will channel €1.2 billion from EU Recovery funds and the national Sustainable Tourism Plan into rail links, heritage-site upgrades and smart-destination platforms operated by SEGITTUR. Pilot projects will begin this spring in Castilla-y-León, Extremadura and Aragón, regions that have long complained that mass tourism’s economic benefits bypass them.
For travellers eager to explore these up-and-coming regions—or for companies relocating events inland—VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. The online service (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) provides real-time guidance on Schengen tourist and business visas, Spain’s new digital-nomad permits, and group documentation, enabling mobility planners to focus on venues and logistics instead of consular queues.
For business-travel and mobility programmes the shift matters because it changes the geography of meetings and incentives (MICE). Inland cities such as Valladolid and Zaragoza are positioning themselves as alternative conference hosts with lower venue costs and generous municipal grants. Hotels in those markets report forward group bookings up 18 % year-on-year, according to data analyst STR.
Policy analysts say the strategy is also a response to mounting social pressure. Barcelona has already pledged to phase out 10,000 licensed holiday apartments by 2028, while the Balearic Islands are capping cruise arrivals. By spreading demand, Madrid hopes to reduce housing inflation and public-service strain in saturated areas without sacrificing the tourism receipts that contributed €126.7 billion in 2025.
Success, however, will hinge on coordination between central and municipal authorities. Critics warn that smaller cities could face their own housing crunch if regulations and enforcement do not keep pace. Corporate-mobility managers should watch local permit regimes and accommodation availability when scheduling large relocations or off-sites in emerging destinations.
