Tourism is of course an enormously important economic asset for Spain which accounts for roughly 12–13% of Spain’s GDP and employs millions of people and is one of the central economic staples alongside agriculture and manufacturing. In 2025 Spain welcomed some 94 million tourists, against a domestic population of around 50 million. This is projected to rise to 100 million by the end of 2026. Another perception is that the Spanish government is attempting to transform the economy away from its agrarian and manufacturing bases to an overwhelming service economy. Hughie Beag is a West Belfast native and recovering legal scholar who spends lots of time in his spouse’s native Basque Country