Spanish travelers are shifting their focus away from the United States this autumn, with Asia, the Mediterranean, and parts of the Middle East gaining popularity.
The Corporate Association of Specialized Travel Agencies (Acave) attributes the shift to security concerns, stricter immigration controls, and what some tourists describe as a sense of not feeling welcome in the U.S.
Just three months ago, destinations such as New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco and the U.S. national parks ranked among the top five choices for Spanish holidaymakers. The sudden drop, Acave said, reflects changing perceptions in a complex geopolitical climate. “A cuestiones de seguridad, a los controles de emigración que se aplican ahora y, en buena medida, a la antipatía que está generando entre los turistas, que no se sienten bienvenidos,” said Jordi Martí, President of Acave.
Emerging Destinations Take the Lead
Acave reported that Spain’s outbound travelers are increasingly favoring emerging Asian destinations such as China, South Korea and India, alongside Japan. Latin America, African safaris, and Mediterranean coasts and islands are also performing strongly, as are Middle Eastern countries not directly impacted by conflict, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. According to Acave, 34.8% of member agencies observed an increase in bookings to China, India and South Korea this year.
Martí emphasized that these destinations are drawing a growing number of Spaniards who save throughout the year for a major summer or autumn trip. He said the growth underscores a diversification of travel preferences, moving beyond the traditional dominance of North America and Western Europe in Spanish travel planning.
Spain Benefits from Global Shifts
While Spanish travelers are seeking alternatives abroad, Acave noted that Spain itself is gaining attractiveness for international visitors. A survey of agency owners found that 61% consider Spain to be rising as a preferred destination for foreign tourists. “Británicos y franceses siguen siendo nuestros principales visitantes, seguidos precisamente por estadounidenses, alemanes, holandeses y belgas,” said Martí.
The association explained that, despite declines in other sectors of the tourism industry during the summer, travel agencies have not yet registered a loss in revenue. Instead, sales of travel packages have increased. Acave reported that 52% of operators saw travel sales grow by an average of 10% compared to summer 2024, with 13% reporting growth above 15%. Only a minority said sales were flat, and none reported steep declines at this stage.
“Todavía no nos ha afectado, pero es cierto que esa disminución está muy relacionada con los precios,” said Catiana Tur, General Manager of Acave. She noted that while agencies are enjoying solid growth, rising costs could eventually pressure margins.
Outlook for the Autumn Travel Season
Looking ahead, Acave members remain cautiously optimistic about the coming months. A majority, 65.2%, expect to increase sales of vacation packages between 5% and 15% this autumn compared to the same period last year. Another 8.7% anticipate exceeding that threshold, while 17.4% foresee steady sales and only 8.7% expect a decline.
The association highlighted that autumn tends to favor shorter trips and weekend getaways rather than extended long-haul vacations. European destinations remain the most common choices during this season, reflecting both convenience and cost considerations. “El otoño es más bien una época de escapadas familiares o con amigos, de fin de semana o de algún puente, con lo que los destinos elegidos suelen ser europeos,” said Tur.
Agency sentiment about the longer-term outlook is more mixed. About 22% of agencies expect no changes in demand, while 18% believe trip lengths are shortening even as overall volumes remain steady. Another 17% predict a decline in bookings, while 39% expressed uncertainty about the future. The uncertainty reflects wider concerns about economic conditions, conflict zones, and the possibility of shifting travel restrictions in the months ahead.
Acave’s findings illustrate a notable rebalancing of Spain’s outbound travel market, with Asia and other regions benefitting from the decline in U.S. appeal. At the same time, Spain’s domestic tourism sector is poised to gain from international demand, particularly from European neighbors. The organization said the combination of solid summer sales, stable forecasts and interest in emerging destinations gives Spanish agencies reason for cautious confidence despite global volatility.
For now, Spanish travel agencies expect continued growth in autumn travel sales, supported by a shift in destination preferences. While the U.S. has slipped from the top tier of favored locations, Asia, Europe and select Middle Eastern countries are seeing increased attention from Spanish holidaymakers. The coming months will show whether these trends hold or adjust further in response to changing global dynamics.
