The first quarter of 2025 once again recorded a new high in visitor numbers to Spain. According to the latest data published by the Spanish Institute of Statistics (INE), nearly 17.1 million international tourists arrived in the country between January and March – a 5.7% increase compared to the same period last year.
This is the highest figure recorded in the INE’s historical series, which began in late 2015. The same applies to total international tourist spending, which reached €23.5 billion by the end of March – a 7.2% year-on-year increase and the highest amount ever recorded for a first quarter.
In terms of spending, the United Kingdom led the way during the first three months of 2025, accounting for 15.9% of the total. It was followed by Germany (12.3%) and the Nordic countries (8.8%).
In terms of visitor numbers, the main source countries in the first quarter were the United Kingdom (with over 3.1 million visitors, a 4.6% increase), France (with more than 2.1 million, a 7.1% increase), and Germany (with nearly 2.1 million, a slight 0.1% decrease).
The data confirms that growth in destination spending continues to outpace the rise in arrivals. According to the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, this is "a clear indication of the shift in the tourism model we aim to consolidate in Spain."
"At the Ministry, we will continue to work towards providing the tourism sector with significant added value. Our goal is to maintain international leadership and establish Spain as a benchmark for a tourism model based on triple sustainability – social, environmental, and economic. This will involve decentralising destinations, diversifying experiences and products, de-seasonalising, digitising and redistributing benefits across regions," Hereu explained.
Growth in arrivals and off-season spending
In March, Spain welcomed 6.6 million foreign tourists, who collectively spent over €9.1 billion. Both spending (up 5.6%) and arrivals (up 3.8%) showed year-on-year growth.
By market and region, Italy experienced the greatest growth in March, with a 27.7% increase among the main countries of origin. Andalusia saw the largest rise (10.2%) among the top destination regions.
On average, each visitor spent €1,382, representing a 1.7% increase compared to last year. Daily spending also grew by 4.5%, reaching €188. Most tourists stayed between four and seven nights, with nearly 3.3 million visitors, a 3.2% year-on-year rise.
In March, spending on international transportation (excluding package tours) was the largest single expense, accounting for 21.9% of total spending and marking a 12.8% increase compared to the same month in 2024.
The next largest categories were spending on activities and accommodation, which represented 20.3% and 17% of the total, respectively. Expenditure on activities grew by 2.6%, while spending on accommodation rose by 5.7%, according to data from the statistical institute.
Italy, the fastest-growing market
In March, the United Kingdom was the leading source country for visitors, with 1.2 million arrivals, reflecting a 3.6% increase compared to the same month last year. In terms of spending, British tourists contributed €1.436 billion to Spain’s economy, a 5.7% rise compared to March 2024.
Germany ranked second, with 896,441 visitors – a 1.4% year-on-year decline. However, German tourists spent €1.279 billion, which marks a 5.9% increase from the previous year.
France saw a decrease of 3.5% in visitor numbers, with 763,153 tourists arriving in March. Spending by French visitors also dropped by 8.3%, amounting to €649 million.
Notably, Italy saw a significant rise in both visitors and spending, with Italian arrivals increasing by 27.7% year-on-year, and expenditure rising by 25%.
Canary Islands, the main destination in March
In March, the Canary Islands were the leading tourist destination, welcoming over 1.5 million visitors, or 23.6% of the total. Catalonia followed with around 1.4 million visitors (20.8%), while Andalusia attracted one million international tourists (16.0%).
Visitor numbers to the Canary Islands increased by 0.9% compared to March 2024. Catalonia saw a 1.0% rise in arrivals, while Andalusia experienced a more significant increase of 10.2%.
In terms of spending, the main destination regions with the highest share of tourist expenditure in March were the Canary Islands (26.6% of the total), Andalusia (17.5%), and Catalonia (15.8%).
Tourist spending in the Canary Islands rose by 4.5% year-on-year, reaching €2.429 billion, while Andalusia saw a 9.5% increase, totalling €1.593 billion. In contrast, spending in Catalonia decreased by 3.4%, amounting to €1.441 billion.
For the first three months of 2025, the regions with the highest cumulative spending were the Canary Islands (29.2% of the total), the Community of Madrid (16.4%) and Catalonia (15.7%).
Asian and American tourist numbers to Spain rise in 2024
In 2024, Spain saw a significant surge in tourists from Asia and the United States, contributing to a historic total of nearly 94 million international visitors. Tourists from Asia grew by 14.2%, driven by a remarkable 66.7% increase in visitors from China. The United States also set new records, with 4.2 million tourists, an 11.2% rise from the previous year.
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