Spain records 96.8 million foreign tourists in 2025, bringing the country within reach of the 100 million milestone as visitor spending climbs sharply.
New data published by the National Statistics Institute shows arrivals rise by 3.2% compared with 2024, while total tourist expenditure jumps by 6.8% to €134.712 billion. The figures confirm that revenue growth continues to outpace visitor numbers.
In December alone, Spain welcomed 5.3 million international tourists, a 0.4% year-on-year increase and the highest total ever recorded for the month. Although monthly growth slows compared with earlier in the year, overall spending keeps accelerating, with December expenditure rising by 5.5% to €8.006 billion.
The year’s results reflect a broader shift in Spain’s tourism model, with authorities and industry leaders increasingly focused on visitor value rather than volume. While arrivals continue to rise, the stronger growth in spending suggests travellers are engaging with higher-quality experiences, longer stays, and higher daily outlays.
Average expenditure per visitor reaches €1,392 in 2025. Although the average trip length dips slightly, it remains above 7 days, while daily spending rises 4.7% to €195. This combination helps drive record revenue even as the pace of arrival growth gradually cools.
The slowdown is evident compared with earlier years. In January and February, arrivals rose by 6.1% and 7.7% respectively, while previous years posted even stronger growth, including a 10.1% increase when Spain welcomed 93.8 million visitors. Despite this moderation, 2025 still surpasses every previous annual record.
Tourism industry representatives argue that focusing solely on headcount misses the bigger picture. Óscar Perelli, executive vice president of Exceltur, recently stressed the importance of analysing how long tourists stay and how much they spend rather than celebrating raw arrival numbers alone.
Government officials echo that approach, pointing to a strategy built around sustainability and economic impact. The Ministry of Tourism notes that spending growth consistently outperforms visitor growth, aligning with efforts to promote a higher-quality tourism model that benefits destinations, workers, and residents alike.
Traditional source markets remain central to Spain’s tourism success. The United Kingdom leads with 19 million visitors in 2025, followed by France with 13 million and Germany with 12 million. British arrivals increase by 3.7%, German visitors edge up 0.7%, while French arrivals dip by 1%.
Despite the fall in French visitor numbers, spending from France still rises by 5.9% to €11.613 billion. German tourists spend €15.831 billion, a 2% increase, while British travellers top the chart with €23.650 billion, up 4.9% year on year.
Some of the strongest growth comes from smaller but fast-rising markets. Portuguese arrivals surge by 13% to 3.4 million visitors, making Portugal the fastest-growing source country. Ireland also shows strong momentum, with 3 million visitors, up 10.1% compared with 2024.
Other markets post above-average increases, including Switzerland at 6.4%, the Netherlands at 4.4%, and the United States at 4.3%, signalling a broad-based recovery across Europe and long-haul destinations.
Regionally, Catalonia attracts the largest share of international tourists in 2025, welcoming nearly 20.1 million visitors, though growth remains modest at 0.6%. The Balearic Islands and Canary Islands each receive 15.7 million tourists, with increases of 2.6% and 3% respectively.
These three destinations also account for the majority of tourist spending. Visitors spend €24.807 billion in Catalonia, €21.058 billion in the Balearics, and €24.431 billion in the Canary Islands, all posting solid year-on-year increases between 4.5% and 6.8%.
Looking ahead, tourism officials expect momentum to continue into 2026 despite geopolitical uncertainty. Projections suggest 26 million tourists will arrive during the first four months of the year, a 3.7% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
Spending is also forecast to rise, with foreign visitors expected to inject around €35 billion into Spain between January and April alone, representing a further 2.6% increase. If these trends hold, Spain’s tourism industry appears set to maintain record revenue levels even as growth in visitor numbers stabilises.
