The Spanish Federation of Campings (FEEC) reported that Spain’s camping sector maintained high occupancy levels across most autonomous communities in August 2026, despite a slight year-over-year decline in overnight stays.
According to figures from Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE), camping overnight stays fell 0.4% in August compared with the same month in 2025. The decline was smaller than the decrease recorded across the broader category of non-hotel tourist accommodations, according to the FEEC.
Sergio Chocarro, manager of the FEEC, said the change had a limited effect on camping businesses. In a statement, he said the decrease “has hardly been noticed in the sector,” adding that the results demonstrate that camping is “a solid and consolidated sector throughout the territory.”
The August figures also showed different demand patterns between domestic and international travelers. Overnight stays by residents of Spain decreased 0.7% from August 2025, while stays by non-resident visitors increased 0.4%. The difference suggests that international demand continued to provide support for camping businesses during one of the industry’s key summer months.
France remained the leading international source market for Spanish campgrounds, accounting for 30.4% of overnight stays generated by foreign visitors, according to Democrata. For campground operators, the continued contribution from international travelers highlights the importance of maintaining marketing, booking and guest-service strategies that address demand from multiple European markets.
Catalonia recorded the largest volume of camping overnight stays among Spain’s autonomous communities in August, with more than 5.2 million stays. The figure represented a 0.8% decline from August 2025. The region remains an important market for the country’s camping industry, particularly during the peak summer travel period.
At the level of individual tourist areas, the Costa Brava recorded more than 2.4 million overnight stays in August. Terres de l’Ebre, meanwhile, posted the highest occupancy rate among the areas highlighted by the FEEC, with 84.3% of available pitches occupied.
For campground and outdoor hospitality operators, the August results point to a market in which overall demand remained relatively stable but varied according to traveler origin and destination. The increase in international overnight stays, alongside high occupancy in several major camping destinations, may also reinforce the value of targeting foreign markets during peak periods while maintaining strategies for domestic travelers.
The figures also provide operators with a basis for comparing occupancy and demand trends across regions. With Catalonia continuing to generate a substantial share of overnight stays and areas such as Terres de l’Ebre achieving high occupancy, operators can use regional performance data to assess seasonal pricing, capacity planning and marketing strategies.
