- 17:42Btr New Material selects tangier as a strategic industrial hub
- 17:15Surge in Russian tourism to Morocco: A summer boom for 2025
- 16:59UK, France and Canada warn Israel of concrete measures over Gaza crisis
- 16:45Morocco ranks fourth globally for Schengen visa applications in 2024
- 16:20Iran’s Khamenei rejects US nuclear enrichment demands
- 16:10Morocco embraces drone technology to enhance security measures
- 15:51EU and UK Intensify Pressure on Russia With Joint Sanctions
- 15:45Severe weather alert: thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast for northern Italy
- 15:14Morocco’s Key Delegation Attends UN C24 Regional Seminar on Moroccan Sahara
Follow us on Facebook
The rise of foreign self-employed workers in Spain amid tourism concerns
In this week’s Inside Spain, we examine the remarkable surge of foreign self-employed workers and the growing anxiety surrounding tourism in popular destinations.
Spain’s population has recently reached a record high of 49,153,849, with an increase of 75,865 inhabitants in just three months. This growth is primarily attributed to an influx of foreigners, as the number of native-born Spaniards continues to decline. Currently, 9.4 million residents in Spain were born outside its borders, while 42.2 million are native Spaniards.
The new arrivals hail from diverse countries, including Colombia, Morocco, Venezuela, Peru, Italy, Honduras, and Ukraine. Many of these individuals are embracing self-employment, despite the myriad challenges of establishing a business in Spain.
Recent statistics reveal that as of March 2025, there are 471,755 foreign self-employed workers in Spain, comprising nearly 14 percent of those registered under the Special Regime for Self-Employed Workers (RETA). This figure marks a historic high, nearly doubling since 2015 with a 92 percent increase over the past decade.
According to data from Spain’s Union of Professionals and Self-Employed Workers (UPTA), these foreign entrepreneurs primarily operate in sectors such as trade and retail, hospitality, and construction. However, a notable increase has also been observed in highly skilled fields, including IT, healthcare, and education.
The majority of these foreign autónomos originate from non-European nations, accounting for 61 percent of the total. In light of Spain’s aging population and a lack of interest among locals in certain trades, foreign entrepreneurship has become indispensable to the economy. UPTA President Eduardo Abad emphasized this point, stating that Spain will require an additional 200,000 foreign self-employed workers in the next five years to sustain economic growth.
Since 2019, Spain has experienced a net loss of 930,000 native-born workers of working age. However, the arrival of 2.1 million foreigners during the same period has played a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the Spanish economy.
In parallel, concerns regarding overtourism have prompted action among local authorities. Recently, mayors from eight prominent tourist towns convened with British tour operators in London to address the rising sentiment of ‘tourismphobia’ that has emerged in Spain.
The mayors of Adeje, Arona, Benidorm, Calvià, Lloret de Mar, Salou, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, and Torremolinos, members of Spain's Alliance of Sun and Beach Tourist Municipalities (AMT), participated in discussions with major British tour operators such as TUI and Jet2. The Mayor of Benidorm, Antonio Pérez, declared a commitment to promoting ‘tourismophilia’ in response to the growing anti-tourism sentiment.
Mark Tanzer, head of the Association of British Tour Operators and Travel Agents (ABTA), underscored the urgency of addressing these concerns before they escalate further. He stressed the importance of educating tourists about local customs and the need for responsible tourism practices.
As Spain braces for mass protests against overtourism scheduled for June 15, the nation continues to grapple with the implications of mass tourism on housing prices and community well-being. The events of 2024 marked a pivotal year, compelling the country to reassess whether the disadvantages of mass tourism now overshadow its benefits.
As the busy summer season approaches in 2025, it appears likely that protests will intensify, reflecting the unresolved tensions between tourism and local residents' quality of life.
Comments (0)