In 2024, Spain’s tourism sector reached the staggering number of 138 million international visitors. This figure represents an increase of more than 10 million visitors versus the previous year and also versus 2019, right before the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Where and for how long do visitors in Spain usually stay? Hotels are by a wide margin the preferred type of accommodation for international tourists in Spain. More than 49 million foreign tourists in Spanish territory opted for such lodging services in 2022. Additionally, 7.3 million travelers stayed at friends’ or relatives’ homes during their trips, while a similar number chose a short-term rental option. The trip length chosen by international overnight travelers in Spain also varied in 2022, though almost half of them stayed between four and seven nights. Meanwhile, over 29 million tourists extended their stay for at least eight nights. However, Spain is also a popular day-trip destination. For instance, more than 33 million non-residents crossed the Spanish border in 2022 for a short visit. Where do people visiting Spain come from? In 2022, the most common country of origin among international tourists in Spain was the United Kingdom, with a total of over 15 million travelers making the trip. Spain’s immediate neighbor to the East, France, was second with more than 10 million French travelers visiting Spain. Out of the 17 autonomous communities, Catalonia was the top Spanish destination for international tourism in that same year, welcoming nearly 15 million people in total.

Around 446 thousand people finished the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in 2023. Within ten years, the number of pilgrims to this Spanish city has increased by 107 percent. The Way of Saint James - which is how this pilgrimage is officially known – is one of the most popular pilgrimage routes in Europe. Traveling on the Camino de Santiago Travelers have a variety of routes to choose from when embarking on the trip. The French Way is the most popular path taken by pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela. Also, the majority of pilgrims journey by foot on the Way of St. James, although some travelers also complete the trek by horseback, sailing, bicycling, as well as in wheelchairs.
Who participates in the Way of St. James? People from diverse backgrounds participate in the Camino de Santiago. In 2023, the majority of pilgrims were between 46 and 65 years old and, a little more than 11 percent of pilgrims who voyaged to the shrine of St. James were 66 years or older. Looking at the gender distribution of the Camino de Santiago trekkers, there were slightly more women than men on the pilgrimage in 2023. Overall, approximately 77 percent of the journeyers were religiously motivated to complete the Camino de Santiago that same year.

Spain ES: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items data was reported at 60.605 USD bn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 56.532 USD bn for 2015. Spain ES: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items data is updated yearly, averaging 51.362 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 65.099 USD bn in 2014 and a record low of 25.368 USD bn in 1995. Spain ES: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism receipts for travel items are expenditures by international inbound visitors in the reporting economy. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These receipts should include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

Spain ES: International Tourism: Number of Departures data was reported at 15,405,000.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 14,407,000.000 Person for 2015. Spain ES: International Tourism: Number of Departures data is updated yearly, averaging 10,571,000.000 Person from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,405,000.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 3,519,000.000 Person in 1999. Spain ES: International Tourism: Number of Departures data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International outbound tourists are the number of departures that people make from their country of usual residence to any other country for any purpose other than a remunerated activity in the country visited. The data on outbound tourists refer to the number of departures, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips from a country during a given period is counted each time as a new departure.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

In 2023, the arrivals at tourist accomodations incl. hotels, holiday and other short-stay accommodation as well as camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks in Spain increased by 11.8 million arrivals (+8.87 percent) since 2022. Therefore, the tourist arrivals in Spain reached a peak in 2023 with 144.83 million arrivals. An arrival is defined as a person (tourist) who arrives at a tourist accommodation establishment and checks in or arrives at non-rented accommodation.Find more statistics on hotels, holiday and other short-stay accommodation as well as camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks in Spain with key insights such as number of tourist overnight stays in travel accommodation, number of tourist overnight stays in travel accommodation, arrivals at tourist accomodations of foreign countries, and number of domestic tourist arrivals at accommodation establishments.

Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Region of Murcia data was reported at 98,554.000 Person in Oct 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 110,278.000 Person for Sep 2024. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Region of Murcia data is updated monthly, averaging 65,688.000 Person from Oct 2015 (Median) to Oct 2024, with 107 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 187,089.000 Person in Aug 2024 and a record low of 1,841.000 Person in Jun 2020. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Region of Murcia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.Q002: Visitor Arrivals: National Statistics Institute: by Region. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Principality of Asturias data was reported at 19,607.000 Person in Oct 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 40,433.000 Person for Sep 2024. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Principality of Asturias data is updated monthly, averaging 20,894.000 Person from Oct 2015 (Median) to Oct 2024, with 83 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 72,324.000 Person in Jul 2023 and a record low of 2,832.000 Person in Jan 2021. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Principality of Asturias data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.Q002: Visitor Arrivals: National Statistics Institute: by Region. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Castile and Leon data was reported at 110,480.000 Person in Oct 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 130,832.000 Person for Sep 2024. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Castile and Leon data is updated monthly, averaging 83,774.500 Person from Oct 2015 (Median) to Oct 2024, with 106 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 254,118.000 Person in Aug 2017 and a record low of 9,842.000 Person in Feb 2021. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Castile and Leon data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.Q002: Visitor Arrivals: National Statistics Institute: by Region. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Spain ES: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data was reported at 75,315,000.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 68,175,000.000 Person for 2015. Spain ES: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data is updated yearly, averaging 52,553,500.000 Person from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75,315,000.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 32,971,000.000 Person in 1995. Spain ES: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

Key information about Spain Tourism Revenue

• Spain's Tourism Revenue reached 6 USD bn in Nov 2024, compared with 10 USD bn in the previous month
• Spain's Tourism Revenue data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1993 to Nov 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 13,523 USD mn in Aug 2024 and a record low of 0 USD mn in May 2020

CEIC converts monthly Tourism Revenue into USD. Banco de España provides Tourism Revenue in EUR. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

Spain ES: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items data was reported at 19.284 USD bn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 17.347 USD bn for 2015. Spain ES: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items data is updated yearly, averaging 15.288 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.540 USD bn in 2008 and a record low of 4.539 USD bn in 1995. Spain ES: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These may include expenditures by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Cantabria data was reported at 40,395.000 Person in Oct 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 48,043.000 Person for Sep 2024. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Cantabria data is updated monthly, averaging 25,158.500 Person from Oct 2015 (Median) to Oct 2024, with 102 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 92,124.000 Person in Aug 2019 and a record low of 1,456.000 Person in Nov 2020. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Cantabria data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.Q002: Visitor Arrivals: National Statistics Institute: by Region. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Spain Visitor Arrivals: Andalusia data was reported at 11,530,070.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 10,589,642.000 Person for 2016. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Andalusia data is updated yearly, averaging 11,059,856.000 Person from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2017, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11,530,070.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 10,589,642.000 Person in 2016. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Andalusia data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.Q002: Visitor Arrivals: National Statistics Institute: by Region.

In 2024, Catalonia was the most visited region by international tourists in Spain. This Spanish autonomous community ranked first thanks to the almost 20 million people visiting from abroad, roughly five million more than the visitors welcomed in the insular communities.

Spain ES: International Tourism: Receipts: % of Total Exports data was reported at 14.860 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 14.299 % for 2015. Spain ES: International Tourism: Receipts: % of Total Exports data is updated yearly, averaging 17.111 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.438 % in 1995 and a record low of 14.101 % in 2012. Spain ES: International Tourism: Receipts: % of Total Exports data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Their share in exports is calculated as a ratio to exports of goods and services, which comprise all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from residents to nonresidents of general merchandise, goods sent for processing and repairs, nonmonetary gold, and services.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, and IMF and World Bank exports estimates.; Weighted average;

Key information about Spain Visitor Arrivals

• Spain Visitor Arrivals grew 6.1 % in Jan 2025, compared with an increase of 1.1 % in the previous month
• Spain Visitor Arrivals Growth rate data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1996 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,015.6 % in Feb 2022 and a record low of -100.0 % in May 2020

CEIC calculates Tourist Arrivals Growth from monthly Tourist Arrivals. National Statistics Institute provides Tourist Arrivals. Tourist Arrivals Growth prior to October 2016 is calculated from Tourist Arrivals sourced from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

Further information about Spain Visitor Arrivals

• In the latest reports, Spain Visitor Arrivals recorded 5,065,094.0 person in the month of Jan 2025
• Tourism Revenue of Spain reached 6.4 USD bn in Dec 2024, an increase of 9.0 % change from the previous month

Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Canary Islands data was reported at 1,360,592.000 Person in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,448,495.000 Person for Dec 2024. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Canary Islands data is updated monthly, averaging 1,104,314.000 Person from Oct 2015 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 112 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,543,223.000 Person in Mar 2024 and a record low of 0.000 Person in May 2020. Spain Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: Canary Islands data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.Q002: Visitor Arrivals: National Statistics Institute: by Region. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

The United Kingdom was the main country of origin for international tourism in Spain in 2024. In that year, more than 18 million British travelers headed South for a trip to Spain. Meanwhile, France ranked in second place that year, accounting for around 13 million foreign visitors to Spanish territory.

Spain Tourism Expenditure data was reported at 3,587.000 EUR mn in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,447.000 EUR mn for Nov 2024. Spain Tourism Expenditure data is updated monthly, averaging 911.000 EUR mn from Jan 1993 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 384 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,587.000 EUR mn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 0.000 EUR mn in May 2020. Spain Tourism Expenditure data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Banco de España. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.Q028: Tourism Balance. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: La Rioja data was reported at 13,942.000 Person in Sep 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 10,759.000 Person for May 2023. Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: La Rioja data is updated monthly, averaging 14,293.000 Person from Dec 2015 (Median) to Sep 2024, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22,014.000 Person in Jun 2018 and a record low of 7,001.000 Person in Dec 2015. Visitor Arrivals: Tourists: La Rioja data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistics Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.Q002: Visitor Arrivals: National Statistics Institute: by Region. [COVID-19-IMPACT]