Ana M. López
Research expert covering travel, tourism and hospitality
Tourism sector in Spain - statistics & facts
Spain is an established tourism market in Europe – the region with the most tourist arrivals worldwide – and globally. In 2024, Spain registered almost 138 million international visitors, increasing by 9.6 percent versus the previous year. This number also represents a new record, surpassing the 126.2 million visitor arrivals recorded in 2019. As it stands, the international tourism volume represents almost three times Spain’s total population, which added up to around 49 million people in 2024. Tourism is, therefore, one of the major drivers of the Spanish economy. That same year, the gross value added (GVA) of industries related to tourist accommodation and food services in Spain reached over 90 billion euros.
Who visits Spain the most?
The international recognition of Spain as an attractive travel destination has drawn visitors from all around the world. However, United Kingdom, France, and Germany topped the list of leading source markets for tourism in Spain in 2024. These three European nations accounted for more than 43 million foreign overnight visitors that year, or roughly 40 percent of the international tourism volume during those twelve months. From outside Europe, the United States, Mexico, and Canada were the most popular countries of origin among foreign visitors in Spain in 2024. Among the many reasons to visit the Iberian country, many do so to enjoy its wineries and wine museums. In 2023, the number of visitors to wineries and wine museums in Spain was nearly three million.How popular is domestic tourism in Spain?
Spain’s wineries, beaches, and mountains are not only a popular destination for international tourists but domestic tourists as well. The country is made up of 17 autonomous communities each with its own unique geography. Andalusia was the most popular travel destination among domestic tourists in Spain in 2024, registering nearly 32 million trips by residents of the country. Catalonia and the Valencian Community followed in the ranking that year with 23 and 18 million trips, respectively. In total, the number of domestic trips in Spain amounted to roughly 163 million in 2024, a decline of 2.3 percent from the previous year’s total. However, this backslide might only be circumstantial as the pre-pandemic numbers well surpassed the 170 million trips per year.
