Spain welcomed an unprecedented 44.5 million international tourists between January and June 2025, according to data from the country’s National Statistics Institute (INE). The figure marks a 4.7% increase compared to the same period last year and reflects a major boost for one of Spain’s most important industries.
Visitor spending also surged, reaching €59.6 billion ($65 billion) — a jump of 7.5% from 2024 levels. Officials say the figures confirm Spain’s status as one of the world’s leading destinations and show travelers are spending more per trip, even as stays become slightly shorter.
The UK, Germany, and France remained the top sources of visitors, but U.S. arrivals continued to climb. More than 2.1 million Americans traveled to Spain in the first half of 2025, a 3.4% increase over the same period in 2024.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) projects that Spain’s tourism sector could contribute nearly €260 billion to the country’s GDP by the end of the year — about 16% of the entire economy — supporting more than 3.2 million jobs.
Despite the economic benefits, the surge has reignited debate about overtourism in hotspots like Barcelona, Mallorca, and the Canary Islands, where protests in recent months have highlighted concerns about overcrowding, housing costs, and quality of life for residents.
Spanish officials say they aim to balance record-breaking tourism growth with sustainability measures, as the country braces for an even busier second half of 2025.
