Spain achieved an unprecedented milestone in its tourism sector during 2025, welcoming a historic 96.8 million international visitors according to official data released by the National Statistics Institute. This represents a substantial 3.2% increase from the previous year’s 94 million tourists, marking the country’s third record-breaking performance since the pre-pandemic era of 2019.
The economic impact of this tourism surge proved equally remarkable, with visitor spending climbing to €134.7 billion ($158.9 billion) – a significant 6.8% increase from 2024’s €126 billion. This solidifies Spain’s position as the world’s third-largest tourism revenue generator, trailing only the United Kingdom and France according to the UN World Tourism Barometer.
Tourism officials highlighted that both the visitor numbers and increased expenditure align with Spain’s strategic pivot toward a more sustainable tourism paradigm that emphasizes quality over quantity. The industry remains a cornerstone of the national economy, accounting for 12.6% of Spain’s gross domestic product.
Regionally, Catalonia – home to Barcelona – maintained its appeal with approximately 20.1 million visitors (a 0.6% increase), followed by the Mediterranean coastal regions and the Canary Islands, which continue to be flagship destinations for Spain’s renowned sun-and-beach tourism.
The United Kingdom supplied the largest tourist contingent at 19 million visitors, with France (12.7 million) and Germany (12 million) comprising other major source markets.
This tourism resurgence has not been without challenges, however. The massive influx has created accommodation pressures, particularly in urban centers where short-term rental proliferation has occasionally created friction with local residents. Many Spaniards express concerns about being priced out of housing markets in areas experiencing mass tourism effects.
Globally, the post-pandemic travel recovery continued with approximately 1.52 billion international tourist arrivals recorded worldwide in 2025 – nearly 60 million more than the previous year according to UN estimates.