UK leads record-breaking summer for international tourism in Spain
Spain has welcomed almost 64 million air passengers so far this year
Spain’s tourism sector has smashed another record this summer. Official figures released on Tuesday August 19 show that 11.7 million international tourists arrived by air in July, up 4.3% compared to the same month last year.
Between January and July, 63.7 million international passengers landed in Spain, a 6% increase on 2024. Almost all major markets grew, with the exception of Germany, where the ongoing economic crisis is holding back tourism.
Arrivals from China, South Korea, Turkey and Colombia surged in July, while Japan also showed signs of recovery.
What comes as absolutely no surprise is that the United Kingdom remains the clear leader. In July alone, 2.7 million passengers flew in from the UK, up 4% on last year and making up 23% of all international air arrivals.
Italy also showed strong growth with 1.1 million visitors, 5% more than in July 2024. France accounted for 7.4% of arrivals, almost 868,000 travellers, similar to last year’s numbers, though many French visitors continue to arrive by car rather than by plane.
The busiest regions for international arrivals were Madrid, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Andalucía and the Valencian Community. All registered growth, but the Valencian Community stood out with an 8% increase compared to last year.
Industry experts predict Spain could welcome a record-breaking 100 million international tourists in 2025. That would be a major boost to revenues, but also a challenge for local communities that already feel the strain of high visitor numbers.
According to analysts, Spain’s sunny climate, strong infrastructure, rich culture, hospitality and world-renowned cuisine continue to be major attractions, alongside one other key factor: competitive prices.
While Spanish residents have struggled with higher hotel and hospitality costs this summer, with 22% unable to travel according to official data, foreign visitors still see Spain as affordable.
“For them, Spain remains a budget-friendly destination,” said Jorge Espinós, CEO of VB Group.
He explained that while real income in Spain has not increased since the pandemic, household incomes in the UK, Germany and France have risen, meaning holidaymakers from abroad continue to view Spain as cheap compared to their home countries.
Image: Archive
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