Spain welcomed 58.1 million international tourists during the first seven months of 2026, marking a 4.6% increase compared with the same period in 2025, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) Frontur data.
Tourism Revenues Rise Faster than Visitor Numbers
International visitor spending in Spain reached €82.05 billion between January and July 2026, climbing 7.8% year-on-year. The strong growth in tourism revenues reflects increasing economic value per tourist, with 11.5 million international arrivals in July alone generating €18.22 billion, a 10.9% rise compared to July 2025.
Visitor Patterns and Expenditure Breakdown
The most frequent length of stay among international tourists was four to seven nights, accounting for 5.7 million visitors, an 8.7%
increase year-on-year. Independent travelers predominated in July 2026, with 8.5 million arrivals traveling without package holidays compared to roughly 3.1 million on packages. Accommodation expenses represented 19.8% of international visitor expenditure, closely followed by package holidays at 19.3% and international transport costs at 19.2%.
Key Source Markets Show Mixed Growth
The United Kingdom remained Spain’s main source market from January through July 2026, sending 11.5 million visitors, up 4.6% from the previous year. France was the second-largest source with over 7.2 million arrivals, increasing 1.2%. Germany contributed approximately 6.9 million tourists, a slight decline of 0.5%. Italy recorded the highest growth among major markets, with 3.5
million visitors arriving in Spain, up 10.3%. Visitors from other countries increased by 16.9% to 717,000 arrivals, with spending rising by 24.5%. July saw about 2.2 million British tourists, 5.6% more than the previous year, spending €3.04 billion, up 4.8%.
Regional Tourism Distribution and Growth
Catalonia was the most visited autonomous community, receiving 11.94 million international tourists from January to July 2026, a 2.9% increase. The Balearic Islands hosted 9.16 million tourists, up 1.8%. The Canary Islands recorded 9.02 million visitors but declined by 0.6%. Andalusia attracted 9.02 million international tourists, rising 8.2%. Madrid and the Valencian Community experienced strong growth of 9.6% and 8.9%,
respectively. In July alone, the Valencian Community welcomed 1.63 million tourists, a 9.5% increase, while Madrid received approximately 800,000 visitors, up 11%.
Spain’s 2026 Tourism Outlook and International Comparison
Spain set a record with 96.8 million international arrivals in 2025 and is on pace to surpass 100 million visitors in 2026 if the 4.6% year-to-date growth continues. Reaching roughly 101 million arrivals would surpass its previous highs and close the gap with France, which hosted 102 million international visitors in 2025. Despite receiving fewer tourists, Spain generated €134.7 billion in international tourism expenditure in 2025, significantly outpacing France’s €77.5 billion.
Future Projections and Tourism Management
A joint Deloitte and Google study projects
Spain to become the world’s most visited country by 2040, with an estimated 110 million annual international tourists, surpassing France’s forecast of 105 million. Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu advocates a strategy of “calm growth,” focusing on enhancing economic value, spreading visitors across regions and seasons, and promoting inland, cultural, gastronomic, and nature tourism to balance visitor numbers with economic and environmental considerations.
