Spain Achieves Record Tourism in 2025 with 85.6 Million Visitors by October

Spain Welcomes Record-Breaking 85.6 Million International Visitors

Spain's tourism sector has achieved an unprecedented milestone in 2025, recording a new high of 85.6 million international visitors by October. This figure, confirmed by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) through its Tourist Movement in Borders Survey (FRONTUR), marks a significant recovery and growth in the country's appeal as a global travel destination.

The accumulated number of tourists up to October represents the highest level ever recorded in the INE's FRONTUR series, underscoring Spain's continued dominance in the global tourism market.

Significant Economic Boost from Increased Tourist Spending

The surge in visitor numbers has translated into a substantial economic boost for Spain. Total expenditure by international tourists in the first ten months of 2025 reached €118,612 million, marking a 7.0% year-on-year increase. In October alone, tourist spending amounted to €12,785 million, a 7.4% increase compared to the same month in the previous year.

The average expenditure per tourist in October was €1,383, an increase of 4.2% year-on-year, while the average daily expenditure rose by 5.5%, reaching €201 per day. This indicates a trend towards higher-value tourism, with visitors spending more on experiences, dining, shopping, and accommodations.

Key Source Markets and Popular Destinations

In October 2025, Spain received 9.2 million international tourists, a 3.2% increase from October 2024. The United Kingdom remained the primary source market, contributing over 1.8 million tourists in October, an increase of 2.8% compared to October 2024. Germany followed with 1.3 million visitors, and France with 1.2 million.

Popular destinations across Spain saw varying levels of growth:

• Catalonia was the top tourist destination in October, attracting 21.4% of all visitors and experiencing a 9.9% rise from October 2024.
• Andalusia accounted for 15.4% of arrivals, showing a 4.2% year-on-year increase, and recorded its best October ever with 1,422,707 international visitors.
• The Balearic Islands held a 17.0% share of visitors in October.

Tourism's Broader Economic Contribution

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts that Spain's tourism sector could contribute an estimated €260.5 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the end of 2025, representing almost 16% of the national economy. Furthermore, the sector is projected to support 3.2 million jobs, accounting for 14.4% of total employment in Spain. This highlights tourism's crucial role as a pillar of the Spanish economy, driving job creation and investment across various related sectors.