Benidorm maintains peak season occupancy driven by British tourists

Benidorm is maintaining its peak season performance throughout September, recording a hotel occupancy rate of 92.5% during the first half of the month. This marks a 2.4 percentage point increase compared to the same period last year. According to data from Hosbec, the destination has successfully passed the 90% threshold despite the earlier start of the month, powered by rising international demand and particularly strong performance from the British market.

British tourists currently represent 41.4% of total visitors to the area, up from 39.4% in September 2015. In contrast, the Spanish domestic market has dropped slightly, moving from 37.1% down to 34.6%. Visitors from Portugal make up 7.7% of the total, while incoming tourist numbers from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Romania continue to build momentum.

High occupancy is being felt across all categories of accommodation. Three-star hotels recorded 93.9% occupancy, while two-star establishments reached 93.1%, representing a 6.3 percentage point increase year-on-year. Four-star hotels achieved an occupancy rate of 92.3%, an improvement of 1.8 percentage points over last year’s figures.

Elsewhere in the region, Valencia is experiencing similarly strong activity. The province as a whole recorded 91.6% occupancy in the first fortnight of September, while the city of Valencia reached 90.3%, up three points compared to 2015. International tourism is a major driver in the regional capital, with the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and Italy standing out as the primary source markets.

Castellón has delivered the highest year-on-year growth rate across the region, reaching an occupancy level of 86.6%, which is 5.8 points higher than the previous year. Unlike Benidorm and Valencia, Castellón remains heavily reliant on domestic visitors, with Spanish tourists representing 78.8% of guests, down from 85.3% in 2025. This surge in performance was largely spearheaded by three-star hotels, which saw their occupancy rates leap from 77.8% to 89.1%.

Forecasts for the remainder of the month remain robust right across the Valencian Community. Following an overall occupancy rate of 90.8% during the first half of the month, Benidorm already has 88.9% of its available rooms booked for the second fortnight. Meanwhile, confirmed bookings stand at 85.9% for the province of Valencia, 82.1% for the Costa Blanca, and 80.8% for Castellón.