Irun has maintained hotel occupancy close to 93% in July, a figure slightly lower than last year but reflecting the sector's current strength and stability. The growth in international tourism and the increase in visitors to key cultural resources confirm the city's capacity to sustain high tourist activity and attract increasingly diverse audiences.
The mayor of Irun, Cristina Laborda, expressed a very positive assessment of the figures: "The July data show that Irun maintains very high tourist occupancy and, moreover, that we are capable of attracting visitors from more and more origins. The fact that four out of ten people staying in the city are now international visitors is a particularly significant figure."
Laborda added that Irun's border condition is a unique characteristic that, while presenting specific needs, also places it in a privileged position to attract visitors and engage with its surroundings. In tourism, she stated, it's crucial to leverage this position by ensuring that arrivals find reasons to stay, explore, and enjoy Irun.
One of the most notable aspects this summer has been the growth of international tourism. While in July 2025, 71% of guests were from within Spain and 29% were foreign visitors, this year the distribution has significantly balanced out, with 60% national tourism and 40% international visitors. The average length of stay was 1.86 nights per visitor, a figure similar to that recorded in the same period last year.
Regarding the origin of visitors to the Tourist Office, within the national panorama, visitors from Catalonia, the Community of Madrid, Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, and Castilla y León stand out. Among international tourists, France continues to be the main origin, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
The Oiasso Museum received a total of 3,549 visitors in July, representing a 21% increase compared to the same period last year (excluding data from the Roman Festival Dies Oiassonis). Of these, 1,682 toured the permanent exhibition, 1,319 visited temporary exhibitions, and 548 participated in guided tours and workshops. Visits to the recently opened interpretation center of the Irugurutzeta ovens attracted 342 people.
By origin, the museum saw significant growth in local and nearby visitors, with 1,447 visitors from Irun (an 83% increase compared to 2025) and 842 from the rest of Gipuzkoa (a 23% increase). Conversely, visits from the rest of Spain and other Basque regions decreased, while French visitors increased by 8% and those from other countries saw a 128% rise.
The city's guided tour program also took place in July, registering high participation. These included tours of the Town Hall, the Juncal bell tower, the new "Irun, 2,000 years of history" route, and the "Irun, from bridge to bridge. Historical Memory" itinerary, all contributing to enriching the city's tourist and cultural offerings.
Irun maintains a stable and positive evolution as a tourist destination, combining high hotel occupancy with an increasingly attractive cultural and heritage offer. The diversification of source markets and the growing interest from international audiences reinforce the city's positioning as a destination capable of attracting both those seeking to discover its history and those using Irun as a gateway to explore the wider territory.
