Spain enters the final stretch of 2025 with fresh tourism milestones and a reshaped travel calendar. Behind the headlines, shifting visitor habits and tighter local rules are redefining when and where people visit.
- A record summer seals Spain’s status as Europe’s top tourist destination
- Spain unlikely to reach 100 million visitors in 2025
- Who is coming and where they are going
- Spending climbs as travel patterns shift to shoulder seasons
- Overtourism, local backlash and what tighter rules mean on the ground
- Outlook for autumn and winter 2025
A record summer seals Spain’s status as Europe’s top tourist destination
Spain set fresh highs in 2025’s peak months, registering 11.0 million international arrivals in July and a new monthly record of 11.3 million in August, according to the INE. Cumulatively, the country welcomed 66.8 million visitors between January and August, up 3.9% year on year and the highest figure for this period.
Spain unlikely to reach 100 million visitors in 2025
On current trends, Spain is projected to close the year at around 97 million international visitors, shy of the symbolic 100‑million mark. Growth moderated in early summer before August’s rebound. While momentum remains solid, the year-to-date increase of 3.9% points to a strong but not record‑shattering finish.
Who is coming and where they are going
The UK remains the leading source market in 2025, with nearly 13.2 million British visitors in January–August, followed by France at almost 9.2 million and Germany at over 8.2 million.
In July, the Balearic Islands accounted for 23.3% of arrivals, ahead of Catalonia (21.3%) and Andalusia (14.0%). Over January–July, Catalonia led with 11.6 million arrivals, followed by the Canary Islands (9.1 million) and the Balearic Islands (9.0 million).
Spending climbs as travel patterns shift to shoulder seasons
Tourist spending continues to outpace arrivals. In July 2025, international visitors spent EUR 16.39 billion, up 6.7% year on year, with average daily spend per traveller increasing to EUR 198.
Travel habits are evolving on two fronts. For inbound tourism, Spain is seeing later travel with momentum beyond peak summer. Among Spanish residents, overall travel rose 2.9% in the second quarter to 46.4 million trips, with Andalusia, Catalonia and the Valencian Community the main destinations. More holidays are shifting from August into September, extending activity into autumn.
Overtourism, local backlash and what tighter rules mean on the ground
Record arrivals have coincided with louder community pushback in hotspot cities and islands, reflected in the recent World Tourism Day protests in Barcelona.
Policy responses are tightening in various regions of Spain in order to tackle the number of visitors.
- Andalusia is creating a dedicated police force to strengthen the inspection of illegal tourist accommodation.
- Málaga has confirmed the suspension of new tourist accommodation licences,
- Barcelona has set a 2028 phase‑out of tourist apartments.
The direction is clearer enforcement in saturated districts through initiatives such as tourist tax in various Spanish cities and a stronger push to spread trips into the shoulder seasons.
Outlook for autumn and winter 2025
Shoulder‑season strength is set to carry into late 2025 as airlines and hospitality providers keep capacity and pricing elevated in high‑demand markets. With the UK, France and Germany anchoring inbound demand so far this year, late‑season volumes should remain robust.
- Travellers should expect more crowd‑management measures and, in some cases, higher local levies in the year ahead.
- In major cities and islands, expect stricter enforcement of short‑term rental rules. Rules around tourist apartments and licensing are tightening, which may affect short‑term hosting and availability for visiting friends and family.
- Popular resort areas continue to experience price pressure, so planning outside peak weeks generally offers more choice and calmer conditions.
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