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Spain has just closed the books on a record-breaking April for tourism, and there is one clear trend so far this year: more people, more spending and more travel variety. At the heart of this surge are British visitors, who not only topped the charts for arrivals but also for the money they spent while here.

 

According to the National Institute of Statistics, Spain welcomed a huge 8.6 million international visitors in April. That’s a 14.1% jump compared to the same month last year and the highest number ever recorded for a single month.

 

Together, these travellers spent just over €10.8 billion.

 

The UK once again proved to be Spain’s biggest fan. More than 1.6 million British visitors arrived in April, which is 11.1% more than in 2024. They were followed closely by travellers from Germany and France, both just under 1.3 million.

 

British tourists were also the biggest spenders, responsible for 16.3% of the total. German visitors made up 14.8% and the French 9%.

 

As the INE report notes, "spending by tourists from the United Kingdom increased by 11.5%." In the case of Germany, the increase was 14.4%, and for visitors from France, 14.7%.

 

Looking at the year as a whole, the UK is still in the lead with more than 4.7 million visitors between January and April. That is a rise of 6.7% compared to the same period last year. France is next, with almost 3.4 million visitors, followed closely by Germany with just over 3.3 million.

 

As for where all these tourists are going, Catalonia was the most visited region in April, attracting 20.3% of international holidaymakers. Andalucía came in a close second with 16.2% and the Balearic Islands followed with 15.8%.

 

Andalucía saw the biggest jump in visitor numbers, up by 15.5%. The Balearics also performed well with a rise of 13.4%, while Catalonia posted a more modest increase of 3.3%.

 

The average tourist spent €1,264 in April, which is up 3.7% from last year. Daily spending also rose slightly to €187. Most people stayed for between four and seven nights, with that type of trip bringing in 4.5 million tourists, an increase of 13.6%.

 

It is also clear that more people are choosing to plan their trips on their own. More than 6.7 million travellers in April chose not to book a package holiday, which is nearly 10% more than in 2024.

 

Hotels are still the most popular choice for accommodation, accounting for just over half of total spending, but alternative options are gaining ground. Rental housing saw a jump of over 25%, while staying with friends or family also increased by the same amount. Even private homes being used as temporary accommodation saw a rise in demand and spending.

 

In terms of where the money is going, the biggest chunk was spent on international transport not included in package holidays, making up just over 21% of total spending. Next came leisure and entertainment activities, accounting for 20.7%. Food and drink came in third at 17.1%.

 

In all, more than 84% of tourists came to Spain for leisure rather than business in April. That’s a 14.6% increase on last year, showing that Spain’s appeal as a fun, relaxed destination is stronger than ever.

 

 

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