European resort outlet on the rise (8)
I believe the answer is:
spaniard
'european' is the definition.
(someone from Spain)
'resort outlet on the rise' is the wordplay.
'resort' becomes 'spa' (spa is a kind of resort).
'outlet' becomes 'drain' (water outlet).
'on the rise' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up).
'drain' reversed gives 'niard'.
'spa'+'niard'='SPANIARD'
(Other definitions for spaniard that I've seen before include "Nadal perhaps" , "Eg, a native of Madrid" , "Native of southern European country" , "Malaga man or woman, perhaps?" , "Slope-measuring instrument" .)