Spain welcomes record 97 million tourists in 2025

Spain attracted a record 97 million foreign tourists in 2025, marking a 3.5% increase on 2024’s 94 million visitors, the tourism minister said on January 15. Tourist spending rose 6.8% to 135 billion eurosю

“This is a collective success by the whole country that perfectly demonstrates Spain's enormous attractivity, because Spain is a country that seduces the world,” Jordi Hereu said, foreign media reports. 

Most visitors come from Europe, with British, German, and French tourists making up around half of arrivals, noted Pedro Aznar, a professor at Esade business school. Tourism now accounts for roughly 13% of Spain’s economy, helping fuel a rebound from austerity measures and the pandemic, and contributing to the Bank of Spain’s forecast of 2.9% economic growth in 2025.

However, mass tourism is drawing local backlash amid a persistent housing crisis.

“Although the sector's growth generates wealth and jobs, the high numbers have ‘a clear impact on residents’ in specific destinations as tourist accommodation ‘offers higher profitability,’” Aznar said.

Barcelona and Malaga have introduced measures to limit short-term rentals, while the government has ordered Airbnb and Booking.com to remove tens of thousands of non-compliant listings.

Environmental concerns also loom, as Spain faces ongoing water stress and recently emerged from a years-long drought.

“The impact on environmental sustainability is also relevant,” Aznar added.

By Sabina Mammadli