Chaos in beautiful European country where tourists outnumber locals 119 to 1 | World | News

A tiny country in Europe has one of the world’s highest rates of tourism, with visitors outnumbering locals 119 to one. Andorra is a landlocked nation in the eastern Pyrenees of the Iberian Peninsula, bordered by France and Spain.

The country received 9.6 million international tourists in 2024, according to the Andorra minister of Tourism and Trade. With a local population of roughly 81,000, that means that Andorra has 119 tourists for every resident. Andorra is small, covering a total area of 180.55 square miles. The country’s economy is heavily built on tourism – due to its location in the Pyrenees, it is a popular ski destination in the winter and a hiking destination in the summer.

The ski season runs from late November to early April, depending on weather conditions. Andorra has several major ski resorts, including Soldeu/El Tarter and Pal/Arinsal. These are very popular with tourists from Spain, France and the UK, particularly because their relatively gentle slopes are ideal for less experienced people as well as families. Andorran ski schools are among the largest in Europe.

Outside of the ski season, some of the ski lift facilities continue to operate at lower capacity, facilitating access to popular viewpoints such as the Tristaina solar viewpoint, a viewpoint–sundial located on Peyreguils at 2,701 metres. Cross-country running, hiking and cycling are also popular activities.

Because it is not a member of the EU, Andorra is able to sell a wide range of duty-free products, including alcohol, perfume and cigarettes. This makes is a popular shopping spot for the French and Spanish across the border.

Shops close for only four days per year. They also have long hours, with business days from Sunday to Thursday often lasting until 8pm, and on Friday and Saturday, shops are generally open until 9pm.

Earlier this year, the tourism ministry launched a campaign to bring in even more tourists. The scheme advertised in more European countries as well as in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil.

The general director of the parapublic, Betim Budzaku, said they are hoping to entice wealthier tourists to visit in the summer to balance tourist spending year-round.

He believes that Andorra has made a very important leap in recent years to improve and complete the tourist experience from all points of view; be it hotel, gastronomic, commercial and also with new attractions and events.