In 2024, Asian tourists emerged as the fastest-growing segment in Spain, helping the country achieve a new all-time high in international visitors, with nearly 94 million arrivals. This growth was also reflected in total spending, which reached €126.282 billion.
Data from the Spanish Statistical Office (INE) reveal that tourism from Asia rose by 14.2% compared to the previous year, driven by improved air connectivity and more streamlined visa processes.
Within the Asian market, China stands out, with 647,801 tourists arriving in Spain, marking an impressive 66.7% increase compared to 2023. Japan also saw strong results, with 410,292 travellers (+32%), while South Korea recorded 388,399 visitors (-10.6%). Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates contributed 202,174 (+9.3%) and 200,698 (+41.6%) tourists, respectively.
The decline in the number of tourists from traditional markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France contrasts sharply with the positive impact of Asian markets on Spain's tourism expenditure. For example, in 2023, Chinese tourists spent an average of €2,958 per person, with €288 per day and an average stay of 10.3 nights. In comparison, British travellers in 2024 spent an average of €1,228, with €176 spent per day during an average stay of seven nights.
North American visitors are also on the up
The United States also set a new record, with 4.2 million American tourists visiting Spain, marking an 11.2% increase compared to 2023 and total expenditure reached €9 million (+16%). This growth is partly attributed to Spain now offering 24 direct routes to the United States, matching the figure from 2019. These routes connect 11 US cities with five Spanish cities, including the reactivation of the seasonal flight between Dallas and Barcelona in June.
American tourists in Spain spent an average of €2,113 per person, with €273 spent per day and an average stay of 7.7 nights. In 2024, 643,689 Canadian tourists visited Spain, reflecting a slight decrease of 1.5% compared to 653,628 the previous year.
In Europe, countries such as the United Kingdom continue to lead tourism in Spain, with 18.4 million visitors in 2024, representing a 6.6% increase. France and Germany also remain among the top three source markets, with 12.9 million (+10.3%) and 11.9 million (+8.6%) tourists, respectively.
In terms of spending, these three countries topped the list, spending €22.602 billion (+13.5%), €15.527 billion (+17.6%) and €11.014 billion (+13.1%). Italy ranked as the fourth largest source market, sending 5.4 million visitors (+12%), followed by the Nordic countries, which contributed 5.1 million travellers (+7.3%).
The Netherlands (4.7 million [+10.6%]), Belgium (over 3 million [+11%]), Portugal (2.9 million [+6.5%]), Ireland (2.7 million [+12%]), Switzerland (2.1 million [+5.7%]) and Turkey (604,676 [+77%]) also made significant contributions to tourism in Spain.
