Spain welcomed a record-breaking 44.5 million international tourists in the first six months of 2025, a 4.7% increase on the same period last year. These visitors spent a total of €59.6 billion, which is 7.5% more than in 2024, according to data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

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Tourists Spending More Even on Shorter Stays

Even though the average stay dropped slightly to 6.6 days, tourists spent more per day, with daily spending rising to €209, up 6.5% from last year. This suggests that people are willing to invest more in their holidays, even if they’re staying for less time.

British, German and French Tourists Still Lead

Despite growing media coverage in the UK suggesting that Britons are ‘abandoning Spain’ due to rising temperatures, they remain the largest group of international visitors.

• UK: 8.9 million visitors (+5.2%), spending €10.5 billion
• Germany: 5.7 million visitors (+3%)
• France: 5.6 million visitors (+3.1%)

Together, these three countries represent the majority of arrivals and spending, with the UK alone making up 17.6% of all tourism spending.

Portugal, Ireland and Italy Show Biggest Growth

The largest growth came from Portugal, with visitor numbers rising nearly 15%. Ireland and Italy both saw increases of 7.7%, showing that demand for Spanish holidays is strong across Europe, not just among long-time visitors.

Baleares Leads in June, but Andalucía Growing Fast

In June, the Balearic Islands were the most visited region, attracting 2.2 million tourists. Cataluña and Andalucía followed, with Andalucía seeing the fastest growth in visitor numbers and a 9.4% rise in tourist spending.

Hotels Dominate But Alternatives Are Still Growing

Hotels remain the most popular choice, with 28.7 million guests, but other accommodation types are growing:

• Holiday rentals: +10%
• Friends and family homes: +10.4%
• Tourist-owned properties: +12.4%

Interestingly, tourists who stayed in hotels accounted for 67% of all tourism spending, showing that this group tends to spend more.

Madrid Tops for Daily Spending

Visitors to Madrid spent the most per day, with an average of €329, followed by:

• Cataluña: €251
• Balearic Islands: €218
• Andalucía: €200

These figures reflect higher accommodation prices in major cities and desirable coastal regions.

Record Numbers Defy Media Narrative

Despite ongoing headlines in British media about tourists ‘quitting Spain’ due to extreme heat, rising costs, or anti-tourism protests in specific hotspots like Barcelona or the Canary Islands, the numbers tell a different story.

Far from declining, tourism is growing across all major markets, including the UK. The idea that people are avoiding Spain seems increasingly like sensationalism, especially as British travellers continue to visit in large numbers and spend more than ever.

Spain Still on Track for 100 Million Tourists in 2025

With these strong figures coming before peak summer travel, Spain is now on course to surpass 100 million international visitors in 2025. That’s not just a recovery from the pandemic years, it’s an outright boom.

In short, despite the headlines, Spain remains one of the most attractive and resilient tourist destinations in the world.

Main image: Shutterstock/Song_about_summer