Alicante has become one of the main destinations for swinger tourism and so-called liberal leisure in Spain during the summer months. The combination of beaches, a high presence of foreign visitors, and a well-established adult offering places the province amongst the top territories where this type of tourism gains greater prominence during the holiday season.
Data released by Wyylde, a social network and dating platform specialising in liberal relationships and sexuality, places Alicante, Murcia, Málaga, Almería, and Las Palmas as the five major summer hotspots for this phenomenon in Spain.
The map shifts compared to the rest of the year. Madrid and Barcelona usually concentrate much of the activity due to the size of both cities and the presence of specialised clubs and establishments. However, during the summer, a shift occurs towards coastal areas and major holiday destinations, where Alicante meets several of the conditions sought by this audience.
The province combines several key elements that, according to the platform, foster the growth of this tourist segment: kilometres of coastline, beaches, natural spaces, specialised establishments, a Mediterranean climate, and a high presence of international visitors. Added to this is the component of anonymity provided by holidays, which makes it easier for couples or individuals interested in consensual non-monogamous relationships to explore this type of leisure while travelling.
In the case of Alicante, French tourism is particularly relevant, coming from a country with a long tradition of liberal tourism and home to Cap d’Agde, one of the major European benchmarks for this market. Unlike the French model, which is much more geographically concentrated, the phenomenon in Spain appears spread across different destinations.
Amongst the highlights in Alicante mentioned by the platform is Los Tusales Beach in Guardamar del Segura. Its natural character and the isolation provided by dunes and vegetation have contributed to making this area well known amongst audiences linked to naturism and liberal leisure. Wyylde identifies it as one of the places associated during the summer with various dynamics of adult encounters.
Summer also modifies how this type of leisure takes place. Throughout much of the year, private clubs and establishments dominate, particularly in large cities. During holidays, according to the specialised platform, demand increases for open environments that focus on relaxation. Hotels, villas, and private enclosures with gardens, terraces, swimming pools, and chill-out areas gain prominence over the closed establishments typical of the rest of the year. The duration of these experiences varies, ranging from a few hours or a single night to multi-day holiday stays.
Alicante shares the spotlight with the Costa del Sol, particularly across Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, and Marbella. Murcia also appears amongst the highlighted destinations alongside Almería, while Maspalomas in Gran Canaria represents another major reference point outside the Mediterranean.
Behind this tourist phenomenon lies an evolution in personal relationships and social perceptions of models outside traditional monogamy. Data cited from the Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) indicates that around 15% of respondents state they have practised or are open to experiencing non-monogamous arrangements. Swinger tourism represents a specific part of this reality, based on consensual experiences between adults who take advantage of their travels and holidays to participate in liberal leisure activities.