Spain has consolidated its position as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world, with data showing that 35 million international visitors arrived between January and May. This represents a 5.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and generated revenue of nearly €46.6 billion, an 8.1% rise.
The majority of tourists came from the UK, with almost 6.8 million visitors, up 6.9%, followed by France with around 4.6 million, up 3.9%, and Germany with over 4.5 million, up 1.8%. In terms of expenditure, British tourists led with 16.9% of total spending, followed by Germans at 12.5% and the French at 8.1%.
At the regional level, Catalonia topped the list with 7.3 million visitors, an increase of 2.2%, followed by the Canary Islands with 6.8 million, up 4.1%, and Andalusia with 5.4 million, up 9.6%.
In May alone, Spain received 9.4 million tourists, a 1.5% increase year on year. Spending reached a new high at over €12.2 billion, up 4.9%, with an average daily spending of €209 per person and an average stay of 6.9 days. Leisure travel accounted for 84% of May’s spending, up 4.6%. Hotels were the preferred lodging option, representing 68.2% of overnight stays, up 1.6%, while stays with family and friends or in private holiday homes saw a 10% spending increase.