A striking consequence of the current crisis: Energy tourism in Spain is picking up speed. With tour operators and hotels, they see more and more bookings from northern Europeans who are fleeing not only the cold but also the electricity bills in their own country.

John and Monique Buter sit on a terrace in the sun near Alicante. The sea sparkles in the background. They ordered wine, a nice tomato salad and beef tenderloin. “All at the expense of the energy company,” says John Buter with a smile. And he calculates: In the Netherlands he currently pays 680 euros in energy. This corresponds to the five hundred euros he pays for his apartment in Alicante, plus the plane tickets (180 euros).

“I have an apartment here with a kitchen and a shower. That’s all you need,” says Buter. “And in the end it gets even cheaper in the winter months. Then you use more petrol and it’s therefore only cheaper to sit here. Because the gas tap is no longer open in the Netherlands for a moment.” The couple is not afraid that pipes in their house will freeze. “The neighbors to our left and right just keep heating and make sure the house stays at around 16 degrees.”

Such calculations have now been made by more northern Europeans, tour operators note. The winter holidays are back, reports the travel organization TUI in Belgium. “This choice is encouraged because the prices are very close to that of a home. Many hotels grant a discount for a stay of at least three weeks.” As a result, bookings increased by around 50 percent.

The Dutch TUI subsidiary is still cautious about drawing conclusions, but is already seeing an increase in flights to the Spanish coast. My Flats, a rental company for apartments in Alicante, speaks of an increase in bookings of around 20 percent. “It’s a whole new form of tourism. The customers are the typical Pensionados. But telecommuters are also looking for houses in southern Spain. They have the same reason for being here: it’s cheaper than staying at home and paying for the heating there,” says owner Daniel Elman.

Elman shows an apartment that is suitable for three people and costs 1,200 euros a month, “including internet, electricity and heating costs”. Those who want to stay in a hotel will have to spend more, although full board in nearby Benidorm costs no more than 40 to 55 euros per night. Customers are mainly travelers from Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany and Great Britain.

Energy prices in Spain and neighboring Portugal are still relatively low compared to other European countries. Spain and Portugal are hardly connected to the European gas network and far less dependent on Russian supplies. That is why both EU countries are allowed to charge their own – cheap – price for gas until at least May next year. Electricity is correspondingly cheap.

“Although we benefit, the motivation of these energy tourists is sad,” admits Daniel Elman. “It’s getting harder and harder to pay their bills domestically.” For next year, Elman isn’t worried about prices rising in Spain.

“Nobody knows how long this crisis will last. However, the demand for energy will only increase. This is easier to solve in a country where the sun shines profusely.”

John and Monique Buter have finished their lunch and are walking one last time along the Mediterranean where the beach is crowded. Autumn is mild and the temperature is around 28 degrees. Tomorrow they fly back to the Netherlands.

But the next booking has already been made, it will be back in January. “Then we’ll come for a month,” grins John. “Of course we drive at the expense of the gas bill. In summer we pay, but in winter the energy supplier does it for us.”