spain tourist numbers 2022

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Tourism sector in Spain - statistics & facts

Who visits spain the most, how popular is domestic tourism in spain, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Quarterly travel and tourism balance of payments in Spain 2018-2022

Tourism premises in Spain 2015-2021

Tourism employment in Spain 2020-2021

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Inbound tourism volume in Spain 2023, by origin

Tourism contribution to Spanish GDP 2006-2023

Destinations

Inbound tourism volume in Spain 2023, by region of destination

Related topics

Tourism in spain.

• Inbound tourism in Spain
• National tourism in Spain
• Tourism in Barcelona
• Travel and tourism in the Canary Islands

Tourism in Europe

• Travel and tourism in Europe
• Backpacking in Europe
• Wine tourism in European countries
• Cruise industry in Europe
• Overtourism in European destinations

Travel trends

• Subscription model in the travel industry
• Mobile travel trends
• Travel and tourism in the metaverse
• Artificial intelligence (AI) use in travel and tourism

Recommended statistics

• Premium Statistic Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021
• Premium Statistic Tourism contribution to Spanish GDP 2006-2023
• Premium Statistic Tourism sector as share of GDP in Spain 2010-2021
• Premium Statistic Monthly growth rate of tourism GDP in Spain 2022
• Premium Statistic Tourism employment in Spain 2015-2021
• Premium Statistic Tourism employment in Spain Q4 2022, by industry

Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021

Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) in 2021

Contribution of the tourism sector to the gross domestic product in Spain from 2006 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 (in billion euros)

Tourism sector as share of GDP in Spain 2010-2021

Contribution of tourism to gross domestic product in Spain from 2010 to 2021

Monthly growth rate of tourism GDP in Spain 2022

Percentage change in the contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Spain from January to December 2022

Tourism employment in Spain 2015-2021

Number of employees in the tourism sector in Spain from 2015 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Tourism employment in Spain Q4 2022, by industry

Number of people working in the tourism sector in Spain in 4th quarter 2022, by industry (in 1,000s)

Tourism volume and expenditures

• Premium Statistic Inbound visitors in Spain 2000-2023
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism volume in Spain 2023, by origin
• Premium Statistic International tourism spending in Spain 2012-2022
• Premium Statistic Domestic trips in Spain 2015-2022
• Premium Statistic Domestic trips in Spain 2022, by destination
• Premium Statistic Domestic tourism spending in Spain 2015-2022
• Basic Statistic Share of travel and tourism spending in Spain 2022, by traveler origin

Inbound visitors in Spain 2000-2023

Number of international visitors in Spain from 2000 to 2023 (in millions)

Number of international tourists in Spain in 2023, by country of residence (in 1,000s)

International tourism spending in Spain 2012-2022

Expenditure of international tourists in Spain from 2012 to 2022 (in billion euros)

Domestic trips in Spain 2015-2022

Number of domestic trips in Spain in 2015 to 2022 (in millions)

Domestic trips in Spain 2022, by destination

Number of domestic trips in Spain in 2022, by autonomous community of destination (in millions)

Domestic tourism spending in Spain 2015-2022

Expenditure of domestic tourists in Spain from 2015 to 2022 (in billion euros)

Share of travel and tourism spending in Spain 2022, by traveler origin

Distribution of expenditure by tourists in Spain in 2022, by main origin

• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism volume in Spain 2023, by travel reason
• Premium Statistic Domestic trips in Spain 2022, by travel reason
• Basic Statistic Share of travel and tourism spending in Spain 2022, by purpose
• Premium Statistic Inbound trips for cultural purposes to Spain 2010-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of enotourists in Spain 2008-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of skiers and snowboarders in Spain 2010-2022
• Premium Statistic Pilgrims on the Way of Saint James 2011-2022

Inbound tourism volume in Spain 2023, by travel reason

Number of international tourists in Spain in 2023, by travel purpose (in 1,000s)

Domestic trips in Spain 2022, by travel reason

Number of domestic trips in Spain in 2022, by travel purpose (in millions)

Share of travel and tourism spending in Spain 2022, by purpose

Distribution of expenditure by tourists in Spain in 2022, by main travel purpose

Inbound trips for cultural purposes to Spain 2010-2022

Number of trips for cultural reasons made by international tourists to Spain from 2010 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of enotourists in Spain 2008-2022

Number of visitors to wineries and wine museums in Spain from 2008 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of skiers and snowboarders in Spain 2010-2022

Number of visitors to ski resorts in Spain from 2010/2011 to 2021/2022 (in 1,000s)

Pilgrims on the Way of Saint James 2011-2022

Number of pilgrims who traveled to Santiago de Compostela, Spain from 2011 to 2022

• Premium Statistic Tourism premises in Spain 2015-2021
• Premium Statistic Share of tourism companies in Spain 2021, by size
• Premium Statistic Main hotel groups in Spain FY2021, by sales revenue
• Premium Statistic Main passenger airlines in Spain 2022
• Premium Statistic Main travel agencies in Spain FY2021, by sales revenue
• Premium Statistic Main restaurants and food stall companies in Spain FY2021, by sales revenue
• Premium Statistic Ecotourism businesses' average revenue in Spain 2022, by type

Number of establishments in the tourism sector in Spain from 2015 to 2021

Share of tourism companies in Spain 2021, by size

Distribution of businesses in the tourism sector in Spain in 2021, by size

Main hotel groups in Spain FY2021, by sales revenue

Leading hotel companies in Spain in FY2021, based on sales revenue (in million euros)

Main passenger airlines in Spain 2022

Leading airlines in Spain in 2022, based on number of passengers (in millions)

Main travel agencies in Spain FY2021, by sales revenue

Leading travel agencies in Spain in FY2021, based on sales revenue (in million euros)

Main restaurants and food stall companies in Spain FY2021, by sales revenue

Leading restaurant and food stall companies in Spain in FY2021, based on sales revenue (in million euros)

Ecotourism businesses' average revenue in Spain 2022, by type

Average revenue of ecotourism establishments in Spain in 2022, by type (in 1,000 euros)

Main destinations

• Premium Statistic Main coastal destinations in Spain 2022, by number of hotel guests
• Premium Statistic Most visited cities in Spain 2022
• Premium Statistic Attendance to Spanish National Heritage sites 2022
• Premium Statistic Attendance to Spanish national parks 2022
• Premium Statistic Cruise ship calls at Spanish ports 2022, by authority
• Premium Statistic Enotourism destination areas in Spain 2022, by region

Main coastal destinations in Spain 2022, by number of hotel guests

Leading beach destinations in Spain in 2022, based on number of overnight tourists in hotels (in 1,000s)

Most visited cities in Spain 2022

Leading city destinations in Spain in 2022, by number of tourists (in 1,000s)

Attendance to Spanish National Heritage sites 2022

Number of visitors to National Heritage sites in Spain in 2022 (in 1,000s)

Attendance to Spanish national parks 2022

Number of visitors to national parks in Spain in 2022 (in 1,000s)

Cruise ship calls at Spanish ports 2022, by authority

Number of cruise vessels calling at ports in Spain in 2022, by port authority

Enotourism destination areas in Spain 2022, by region

Number of Wine Routes in Spain in 2022, by autonomous community

Online travel market

• Premium Statistic Quarterly online revenue of accommodation businesses in Spain 2014-2022
• Premium Statistic Quarterly online revenue of travel agencies & tours operators in Spain 2014-2022
• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue in Spain 2015-2020
• Premium Statistic Willingness to purchase tourism services online in Spain 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Average spend on tourism services booked online in Spain 2018-2022
• Premium Statistic Hotel / private accommodation online bookings by brand in Spain 2023

Quarterly online revenue of accommodation businesses in Spain 2014-2022

E-commerce revenue of hotels and similar establishments in Spain from 1st quarter 2014 to 4th quarter 2022 (in million euros)

Quarterly online revenue of travel agencies & tours operators in Spain 2014-2022

E-commerce revenue of travel agencies and tour operators in Spain from 1st quarter 2014 to 4th quarter 2022 (in million euros)

Airbnb revenue in Spain 2015-2020

Revenue of Airbnb in Spain in 2015, 2019, and 2020 (in million euros)

Willingness to purchase tourism services online in Spain 2019-2022

Share of individuals who intended to buy travel products and services online in Spain from 2019 to 2022

Average spend on tourism services booked online in Spain 2018-2022

Average spend on travel products and services bought online in Spain from 2018 to 2022 (in euros)

Hotel / private accommodation online bookings by brand in Spain 2023

Hotel / private accommodation online bookings by brand in Spain as of December 2023

Further reports Get the best reports to understand your industry

Get the best reports to understand your industry.

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

</> API

Information on Spain’s tourism industry

A selection of the most significant Spanish tourism data for consultation and study.

A selection of current posts on Spanish tourist information

• Practical case: the impact of a major event on travel to a destination
• Cruise lines: its passenger figures in 2023 and its changes and trends over the last year and since the pandemic
• Geospatial Data: Maps that Help Us Interpret Data

9,3% of employment

Accommodation

Sustainability

Receive all the news in your inbox. Always be up-to-date with the latest tourism information in Spain.

Spain Tourist Arrivals

Spain welcomed 6.3 million international tourists in march 2024, which is 21% more than in the same month of 2023. the united kingdom remained the leading source of foreign tourists, with 1.2 million visitors, representing a 13.3% increase compared to march 2023. it was followed by germany with 0.91 million visitors, and france, with 0.79 million tourists. the most visited region in spain was the canary islands with 24.3% of the total number of international tourists, followed by catalonia (21.2%) and andalucía (15.1%). considering the first three months of the year, the number of tourist arrivals rose by 17.7% to 16.1 million. source: national statistics institute (ine), tourist arrivals in spain increased to 6347.52 thousand in march from 5009.31 thousand in february of 2024. tourist arrivals in spain averaged 4668.41 thousand from 1995 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 10493.44 thousand in july of 2017 and a record low of 0.00 thousand in april of 2020. this page provides - spain tourist arrivals - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. spain tourist arrivals - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on may of 2024., tourist arrivals in spain increased to 6347.52 thousand in march from 5009.31 thousand in february of 2024. tourist arrivals in spain is expected to be 8600.00 thousand by the end of this quarter, according to trading economics global macro models and analysts expectations. in the long-term, the spain tourist arrivals is projected to trend around 4250.00 thousand in 2025, according to our econometric models.,   markets,   gdp,   labour,   prices,   money,   trade,   government,   business,   consumer,   housing,   taxes,   energy,   health,   climate.

• 11th May 2024 | Industrial production in Spain falls by 1.2% year-on-year in March, compared with an increase of +1.3% previously
• 10th May 2024 | Home sales down 13.7% in March; average price per square metre rises by 4.2%
• 10th May 2024 | The Spanish economy surprises the most optimistic
• 10th May 2024 | Iberdrola can continue operating “comfortably” with “BBB+” rating after implementation of new 2024-26 strategic plan, says S&P Global

71.6 million tourists visit Spain in 2022, spending €87 billion

Posted By: The Corner 3rd February 2023

The data on tourist movements at borders (Frontur) made public by the Spanish statistical institute show that the figures for the end of 2022, which are close to 72 million registered tourists, are still 14.3% below those recorded in 2019, a record year for Spanish tourism in which 83.7 million foreign visitors to our country exceeded 83.7 million.

For the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, these data confirm the intense recovery of the tourism sector in 2022. “The expectations we had of recovering the majority of international tourists from the pre-pandemic period have been fulfilled, but the most important thing is that spending is growing more and also the average stay, and this means an improvement in the quality and profitability of our sector,” she said.

The main countries of residence of tourists visiting Spain last year were the UK, France and Germany. Tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom increased by 251.3%, those from France by 73.3% and those from Germany by 87.4%.

By regions, the auronomous community of Catalonia was the principal destination in 2022, with 20.7% of the total number of tourists. It was followed by the Balearic Islands (18.5%) and the Canary Islands (17.2%).

Most of the international tourists arriving in Spain came by air, a total of 59.3 million, an increase of 142.5% over the previous year. Nearly 11 million international visitors arrived by road, an increase of 71.8%. Hotel or rented accommodation was used by 59.5 million tourists (140.3% more than in 2021) and homes owned or rented by family or friends by another 12 million (87.8% more).

The majority stay in 2022 was between four and seven nights, and the majority of visitors (54.1 million) came to Spain without a tourist package, twice as many as in 2021. These data confirm the end of a positive year for tourism in Spain, which in December was visited by 4.1 million international tourists, 39.9% more than in the same month in 2021.

About the Author

Privacy Overview

Saturday, May 11, 2024 5:01 pm (Paris)

Spain hopes to set a new record for tourist numbers in 2022

After two difficult years, the country welcomed just over 30 million visitors in the first half of the year – almost six times more than in the same period in 2021.

By  Isabelle Piquer   (Madrid (Spain) correspondent)

Time to 2 min.

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Facebook
• Share by email
• Share on Linkedin

Subscribers only

"We follow the economic situation in Germany closely, because that's where a lot of our tourists come from, and if we learned anything during the pandemic, it's to anticipate events," said Maria Frontera, president of the Mallorca Hoteliers Federation.

Despite the uncertainties linked to the economic situation, Spain expects to break records in terms of visitors this summer, after two lean years. Before the health crisis, 13% of jobs and 12.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) depended on tourism, and so this long-awaited revival is a welcome relief, as coronavirus has left its mark. "We had to change our working methods and get used to last-minute bookings. In 2022, we anticipated that demand would be very high," Ms. Frontera added.

According to the latest official estimates, just over 30 million international tourists visited the country in the first six months of 2022 – almost six times more than in the same period in 2021.

"This represents 80% of the pre-pandemic volume," the Minister of Tourism Reyes Maroto said on Tuesday, August 2, describing "extraordinary" results. This summer, she said, tourists were "spending more and staying longer."

Despite the inflationary spiral, which reduces visitors' purchasing power as well as the sector's margins, "the travel fever that has spread throughout Europe in recent months" has resulted in a "dazzling rebound in visitor numbers," said Exceltur, the employers' alliance for the sector, in early July. The momentum should continue for the rest of the season.

'Sharp increase in costs'

The British came top of the list of those enjoying the Spanish sun (6.5 million), followed by the Germans (4.4 million) and the French (3.9 million). They mainly visited the Balearic Islands (26.3%), Catalonia (21.6%) and Andalusia (13.5%). It marked a providential windfall for a sector damaged by Covid-19 and that had broken all records before the pandemic in 2019, when 83.7 million tourists spent more than 92 billion euros in Spain.

One of the downsides to this exponential growth is that the influx of tourists will not be fully reflected in companies's results within the sector. They face "a sharp increase in costs, particularly in energy (25%) and food (16%), which can only be partially absorbed by prices," said Exceltur, looking ahead to an uncertain autumn period.

"We're still not doing well economically. We have a lot of catching up to do. The 2021 season only lasted four months," said Ms. Frontera, reiterating that tourism represents 42% of the Balearic Islands' GDP. "If the crisis hits Europe, we will have to fall back on other markets, such as the United States. We have had three direct flights from Newark [New Jersey] operating since the beginning of the summer, which are working much better than expected – thanks in part to the rise in the dollar."

You have 20.61% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.

Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil.

Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois

Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil.

Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil.

Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur, téléphone ou tablette).

Comment ne plus voir ce message ?

En cliquant sur «  Continuer à lire ici  » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte.

Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici ?

Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil. Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte.

Y a-t-il d’autres limites ?

Non. Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez, mais en les utilisant à des moments différents.

Vous ignorez qui est l’autre personne ?

Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe .

Lecture restreinte

Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article

Pour plus d’informations, merci de contacter notre service commercial.

Spanish tourism rebounded last year but still lagged pre-Covid levels

Spanish tourism experienced a solid recovery last year although the number of visitors was still only 86% of pre-Covid levels. A further recovery will support Spanish growth in 2023

71.6 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2022, or 86% of pre-Covid levels

Now that the Spanish statistics office, INE, has announced the remaining figures for December, we have a full picture of last year. In 2022, 71.6 million foreign tourists visited Spain, up 130% compared to 2021, but still 14% less than in the pre-Covid year 2019. Spanish international tourism experienced a strong recovery in the first half of the year but slowed from the summer. While the number of foreign visitors was already at 92% of its pre-Covid level in July, the gap remained intact in the second half of the year. High inflation and energy prices have put considerable pressure on the purchasing power of households in Europe, causing them to save on their travel budgets. In addition, the strict Covid restrictions in China and the loss of Russian tourists, who still accounted for 1.3 million visitors or 1.6% of the total in 2019, have also slowed down international tourism in Spain.

The number of foreign visitors to Spain still considerably lags pre-Covid levels (in millions)

Domestic tourism already fully recovered from pandemic.

Domestic tourism recovered from the pandemic much faster than international tourism. In April, the number of overnight stays by residents had risen above pre-Covid levels. For all of 2022, the number of overnight stays by Spaniards was at the same level as in 2019. The effect of the cost-of-living crisis on domestic tourism was probably mixed. On the one hand, domestic tourism probably received a boost because many Spaniards opted for a domestic holiday this year instead of a trip abroad to save money. On the other hand, many families have likely cut back on their travel budgets, which has likely slowed domestic tourism in 2022. Also, the uncertainty associated with the pandemic at the beginning of last year probably caused more families to decide to stay closer to home.

The number of overnight stays by Spanish residents

A further recovery in international tourism will contribute positively to spanish growth this year.

Tourism is an important economic sector in Spain, contributing 14% to total GDP in 2019, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Sustained growth in the number of international visitors would be one of the key elements supporting Spanish GDP this year. We expect the number of international visitors to grow by approximately 10% in 2023. There is still great recovery potential, especially in the first half of the year, as the sector was just starting to emerge from the doldrums during the same period last year. In addition, there are also some early signs that the Chinese are keen to travel again. Once the health situation in the country normalises and the remaining travel restrictions are lifted, a growing number of Chinese visitors will boost Spanish tourism. We expect the Spanish economy to grow 1.2% this year, an upward revision thanks to a better-than-expected fourth quarter of 2022.

International tourism, number of arrivals - Spain

Selected Countries and Economies

All countries and economies.

• Privacy Notice
• Access to Information

This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. To learn more about cookies, click here.

International Tourism Statistics for Andalucia

International tourist statistics for andalucia.

by Chris Chaplow

2023 figures - the recovery continues

Official data by INE (National Statistics Institute, see table below) for 2023  recorded 12.2 million international arrivals to Andalucia, a record year, just overtaking the 12.02 million in 2019. This means that international tourism numbers in Andalucia returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, which is a hugely significant moment for the tourism industry here. 

Figures should only be compared to those from 2019 (see below), the last "normal" year, to indicate the recovery of tourism after the pandemic. International tourists to Andalucia are defined as those making an overnight stay, whose country of residence is not Spain, and whose main destination in Spain is to Andalucia.

However international arrivals in 2023 were not the same for all countries. The UK, which is the biggest country for tourist arrivals here in Andalucia, still has a way to go to recover pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, UK arrivals were 2.65 million, ahead of 2022's 2.40 million but only 88 % of  2019 pre-pandemic year of 3.01 million tourists.

2020 to 2022: from pre-pandemic record levels to post-pandemic recovery

In 2019,  the last pre-pandemic year, Andalucia received 10.8  million international tourists , which was the highest ever recorded, and greeted with delight by the regional government. This figure was 3.4% up on 2018, and in line with consistent growth from 2010 to 2019.

In 2020 , the first year of the Covid pandemic,   Andalucia received only 2.7 million international tourists . January and February were up about 3% on 2019, but after mid-March when the Coronavirus pandemic.struck, borders were closed until mid-July, when restrictions and/or tests made it complicated for international tourists to visit.

• Airport Statistics for Andalucia

In 2021 the recovery started -   Andalucia received 4.2 million international tourists , about a third of pre-pandemic levels. In the second half of the year, as restrictions eased international tourist numbers increased, with October / November reaching about 75% of 2019 levels (see monthly table, below). However the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus at the end of the year caused a reduction in reservations for the 2022 holiday season, which usually see a boost in January.

The 2021 national tourist arrivals (including Andalucian tourists) increased substantially in 2021, with close to 20 million tourists helping the economy of the tourism, and especially the hotel, sector. Of the 20 million, 77% were national, and about half of these were Andalucian residents travelling within Andalucia, possibly helped by the hotel discount voucher offered by the regional government. This supported the local destinations' economies, but not the Andalucian tourism economy as a whole.

In 2022 Andalucia received 10  million international tourists . This is equivalent to 83% of the 2019 peak, and similar to the 2015/6 figures. 

These figures would place Andalucia, if it were a country, about 25th in a world league of foreign tourist arrivals.

Internationally 2022 started slowly, since the Covid wave over New Year delayed summer reservations. January 2022, for example, saw 56% international arrivals compared to 2019 levels, but UK arrivals were only back to 39%.

In the first half of 2022, international tourists were at 77% of 2019 levels. Many reports optimistically predicted that 2022 would be a bumper summer for travel to Spain, and indeed the second half of the year recorded a more impressive 89%. 

International Tourists in Andalucia - by year

In the table we observe the increase in international (ie non Spanish) tourist arrivals to Andalucia. A general increase from 2000 to 2007, then the fall to 2010, followed by the rise back to 2019, then the pandemic in 2020/1 and the recovery in 2022 and 2023.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Movimentos turisticas en frontera. Frontur .

International Tourists to Andalucia - by month

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Movimentos turisticas en frontera. Frontur   Data published by INE five weeks after end of month.

British Tourists to Andalucia - by month

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Movimentos turisticas en frontera. Frontur   data Data published by INE five weeks after end of month.   

International Tourists to Andalucia - by country

In the table below, for 2011 and 2010 and 2009, we show the international tourists in Andalucia by their country or region of residence.

Source: Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Frontur.

Compare tourists by country - Summer 2019 and 2023

If international tourist to Andalucia is just above 2019 level and UK is down, which countries are up? In the table below, which just looks at the summer school holiday months of July and August one can see which countries have increased and which have descreased. Countried with less than about 25.000 per mont are not included in the published Data.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica. Movimentos turisticas en frontera. Frontur   data

Tourist visits to towns in Andalucia

Tourist visits to towns in Andalucia are measured by INE from hotel occupation records. They don't reflect when a town receives day trip visits only overnight stays. A tourist staying serveral nights is counted once however a tourist changing hotel will be counted twice.

Source: Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica.

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with our website and allow us to remember you. We use this information in order to improve and customize your browsing experience and for analytics and metrics about our visitors both on this website and other media. To find out more about the cookies we use, see our Cookies Policy .

If you decline, your information won’t be tracked when you visit this website. A single cookie will be used in your browser to remember your preference not to be tracked.

Spain Visitor Arrivals

• Spain Visitor Arrivals recorded 5,009,311 person in Feb 2024, compared with 4,768,171 person in the previous month
• Spain Visitor Arrivals data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1995 to Feb 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 10,493,438 person in Jul 2017 and a record low of 0 person in May 2020

View Spain's Visitor Arrivals from Jan 1995 to Feb 2024 in the chart:

What was Spain's Visitor Arrivals in Feb 2024?

Spain Visitor Arrivals recorded 5,009,311 person in Feb 2024, compared with 4,768,171 person in the previous month See the table below for more data.

Visitor Arrivals by Country Comparison

Buy selected data, accurate macro & micro economic data you can trust.

Explore the most complete set of 6.6 million time series covering more than 200 economies, 20 industries and 18 macroeconomic sectors.

Spain Key Series

More indicators for spain, request a demo of ceic.

CEIC’s economic databases cover over 200 global markets. Our Platform offers the most reliable macroeconomic data and advanced analytical tools.

Explore our Data

• Hotel Industry and Tourism

Tourist Movement on Borders Survey Frontur. Latest data

Latest press releases.

Spain received 6.3 million international tourists in March, 21.0% more than in the same month of 2023. In the first three months of 2024, the number of tourists increased by 17.7%.

• Press release
• Tables annex
• Infographics. Tourism indicators
• Dissemination calendar

Most popular tables

Did you know....

The Tourist Movement on Borders (Frontur) Survey has as main objective to provide monthly and annual estimates on the number of visitors not resident in Spain that come to our country (turists and same-day visitors), as well as the main features of the trips (way of access, destination, country of residence, reason, way of organization,...).

This survey countinues the Tourist Movement on Borders (Frontur) Survey, carried out by Turespaña until September 2015, and it disseminates its results as of October 2015.

• News News about the activity of the President of the Government of Spain
• Speeches Transcripts of events and appearances; interviews and articles by the President of the Government of Spain
• Videos Videos of the President of the Government of Spain at events and appearances
• Biography Introduction to and curriculum vitae of the President of the Government of Spain
• Write to the President How to contact the President of the Government of Spain
• Presidents since 1978 List of democratic presidents of the Government of Spain
• Government Organisational Structure President, Vice-Presidents and Ministers of the current Government of Spain
• Functioning of the Council of Ministers What the Council of Ministers is and how it is organised
• Activity of the Council of Ministers Highlights of the press conferences held after the Council of Ministers
• News News from the ministerial departments of the Government of Spain
• Governments by Legislature Members of governments since 1978
• Information Offices Functions and list of the Spanish State’s foreign policy support bodies
• Regulation for International Media Correspondents Accreditation of foreign press correspondents and special envoys
• Press Accreditation Description of the procedure to be accredited by the Secretary of State for Communication
• Subscribe to weekly newsletter Subscription to the newsletter with the latest information from the La Moncloa website
• Constitution Content of the supreme rule of the Spanish legal system. State symbols
• Organization of Spain Key aspects of the powers and territorial organisation of the Spanish State
• Government >

Frontur and Egatur data for March

Spending by international tourists grows by 27.2% in the first quarter and visitor numbers increase by 17.7%

News - 2024.5.3

In March, tourist arrivals in Spain exceeded 6 million, 21% more than in the same month last year, and spending amounted to €8.65 million.

International tourist arrivals and tourist spending in Spain experienced significant growth in March, marking the end of a historic first quarter of the year for tourism, which this year included the Easter break. Spain was visited by 6.3 million international tourists in March, 21% more than in the same period of 2023, according to data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Spain also once again broke its record for tourist spending this month. Foreign visitors brought in almost €8.65 billion, an increase of 29.7% on March last year. In the first quarter, spending by international tourists grew by 27.2 % to €21.95 billion, and the number of visitors increased by 17.7 % to more than 16.1 million tourists.

For the Minister for Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, "this first quarter of the year, previously conceived as a low season, has turned out to be the best in our historical series, with an outstanding growth in spending at the destination and in the average spending of international tourists, which perfectly reflects the change in the tourism model".

The statistics for average expenditure per traveller and average daily expenditure, which together with the average stay are three of the best measures of the effectiveness of the policies implemented by the ministry to improve the quality of tourism, have improved for yet another month. In March, each tourist spent an average of €1,363, 7.3% more than last year, and spending per day also reflected this growth, reaching €180, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%. The average length of stay also increased slightly compared to the March 2023 data to 7.6 days.

The US, the third largest market in terms of spending

The UK continues to top the list of tourist sending countries, with 1.2 million people in March and an increase of 13.3% compared to March 2023. In second place in terms of source countries of Spanish tourism was Germany, which issued 909,031 visitors (28.7 % more than a year ago), and in third place was France, from where there were 791,648 arrivals (31.8 % more than in March 2023). In March, 285,498 people visited us from the US, an increase of 10.4 %, while 250,978 tourists arrived from Asian markets (China, Japan and South Korea, among others), representing a year-on-year increase of 18.2 %.

In terms of spending, UK tourists who visited us in March spent almost €1.37 million, representing a growth of 17.8%. The second country in terms of spending was Germany, the nationals of which spent €1,207 million on their holidays in Spain, an increase of 45.1% compared to March 2023. In third place was the US, with €755 million and a year-on-year growth of 34.3%. In fourth place was France, with €600 million in expenditure and an increase of 26.4%.

Leading the list of countries with the highest growth in international tourist arrivals this March was France, with an increase of 31.8 % compared to a year ago; in second place was Belgium, which experienced a rise of 30.3 %; and in third place was Germany with a year-on-year increase of 28.7 %.

The Canary Islands continue to lead the way in arrivals and expenditure

The Canary Islands was the top destination for tourists in March, with 24.3% of the total, followed by Catalonia (21.2%) and Andalusia (15.1%). A total of 18.9% more tourists were received by the Canary Islands in March 2024 than in March 2023. The number of tourists visiting Catalonia and Andalucia increased by 27.9% and 19.8%, respectively.

The autonomous communities of main destination with the greatest weight in tourist spending in March were the Canary Islands (with 26.9% of the total), Catalonia (17.3%) and Andalusia (16.9%). Tourist expenditure increased by 20.9 % in annual rate in the Canary Islands, by 38.1 % in Catalonia and by 47.6 % in Andalusia.

In the first three months of 2024, the regions with the highest cumulative expenditure were the Canary Islands (with 29.7% of the total), Catalonia (16.6%) and the Community of Madrid (15.5%).

Non official translation

Tourist pointing on a map

• Tourist Movement on Borders Survey (Frontur)
• Total expenditure survey (Egatur)

This website uses its own and third-party cookies to maintain the session, offer a better user experience and obtain statistical data on user navigation. For more information see Cookies policy

These popular destinations are fed up of tourists, and are taking steps to keep them in check

How many is too many?

In recent years, over-tourism has become a growing concern for many popular travel destinations worldwide. Cities and regions traditionally known for attracting millions of visitors each year are now taking proactive measures to curb the negative impacts of overwhelming tourism. Here's a look at some destinations that are fed up with excessive tourists and the steps they are taking to manage the influx.

Venice, Italy

Visitors to Venice must pay an admission charge ranging from €3 to €10 in order to enter the city and its islands. This has enhanced the standard of living for residents while lowering the number of tourists. Venice has also outlawed the entry of big cruise ships into its famed lagoon. A number of Italy's well-known tourist destinations now charge admission in other towns. Also See| Travelling to Europe? How to get 5 year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa

Athens, Greece

Greece has announced that the Acropolis, its most popular tourist destination, will soon have a time slot system in place. Furthermore, there will only be 20,000 visitors every day to the Acropolis, and each visitor will be given a designated hourly slot throughout the monument's twelve-hour daily hours of operation. Greece has also chosen to impose admission fees at certain of its tourist destinations. Also See | Every country you can visit on a Schengen visa & what not to miss ​

Santorini, Greece

Among the most famous Greek islands is Santorini. The island welcomes about two million visitors annually, and in 2019 steps were taken to prevent overtourism. One approach was to cap the number of cruise visitors to the island at 8,000 per day.Perhaps the most peculiar of all was the prohibition against overweight tourists (those weighing more than 100 kg or 220 lbs) from riding donkeys. Also See | Travelling to Europe? How to get 5 year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa

Machu Picchu, Peru

Peru's main draw is the Inca fortress from the fifth century. Tourists are only allowed in during one of two timeslots every day to prevent crowding. Furthermore, each tour guide is only permitted to accompany ten guests at a time. There is a daily limit on the quantity of visitors. The cap will be 4,500 individuals per day as of 2024. Up to 5,600 visitors a day may be permitted on certain exceptional days, though.

Amalfi Coast, Italy

Probably the most popular coastal area in Italy is the Amalfi Coast. Authorities implemented a different licence plate system in an effort to reduce mass tourism. This implies that rental automobiles with odd-numbered licence plates can pass through it in a single day, but even-numbered licence plates can only be driven through the next day. Also See| Travelling to Europe? How to get 5 year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam has made the decision to prohibit cruise ships from calling at its primary ports. They took this action because cruise ships have the capacity to draw huge crowds of people to a limited location, placing a burden on the local resources and infrastructure. Additionally, Amsterdam plans to raise the city's tourist accommodation tax by one percentage point. Also See| Every country you can visit on a Schengen visa & what not to miss ​

Paris, France

The Paris Louvre has restricted daily admission to 30,000 guests as of 2022. A €1 million campaign was started by the French government in 2024 to encourage travelers, both foreign and local, "to adapt their destination choices and schedules." Promoting "year-round" and "off-the-beaten-track" travel is the goal. Also See| Travelling to Europe? How to get 5 year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

The Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela intends to impose a tourist fee in order to combat overtourism and assist fund local government. Also See| Every country you can visit on a Schengen visa & what not to miss ​

Barcelona, Spain

The city imposed a "city surcharge," which went up to €3.25 (US$3.48) in 2024, and closed its northern port terminal to cruise ships. The Catalan capital imposed noise limits and tour group size limitations in 2022. Short-term room rentals and new hotel construction have both been prohibited in the city core. The bus route for number 116 was taken out of map applications more recently. Many tourists took the bus route to see Barcelona's top attraction, Park Güell. Residents clearly felt this had an effect on their lives, and they applauded the action. Also See| 9 countries that offer digital nomad visas to Indians, and how much they cost ​

Portugal has planned to charge for playing loud music at popular beaches in an effort to curb noise pollution. The penalties will be between €200 to €36,000 in total. Also See| 9 countries that offer digital nomad visas to Indians, and how much they cost ​

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The well-known Croatian city of Dubrovnik has started the "Respect the City" campaign to combat excessive tourism. To maintain the city's distinct charm and legacy, the plan includes limits on certain behaviors as well as a system for dropping off bags. This was carried out in response to complaints from locals in Dubrovnik about noise pollution caused by visitors dragging their bags along the cobblestone streets of the city, which they said kept people awake at night. Also See| Every country you can visit on a Schengen visa & what not to miss ​

Bali, Indonesia

In 2024, the government imposed a tourist fee in an effort to reduce excessive travel. All visitors to the island will now need to pay IDR 150,000, or around $10. Bali also intends to outlaw motorcycle rentals for visitors. ​ Also See| 9 countries that offer digital nomad visas to Indians, and how much they cost

Rome, Italy

Among the most traveled nations in Europe is Italy. As such, major cities, including Rome, the capital, have implemented steps to restrict crowds. For example, visitors to the Pantheon now have to pay a €5 (US$5.36) admission price as of 2023. Also See| Travelling to Europe? How to get 5 year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa

In an effort to reduce mass tourism, the Kingdom of Bhutan implemented a Sustainable Development Fee. A US$100 daily tourist visa is required to enter this stunning Himalayan nation.

Milan, Italy

In an effort to curtail activities after midnight, Milan has suggested new laws. In addition to enforcing closing times for outdoor areas of restaurants and bars, the city is considering prohibiting the sale of pizza and ice cream after 12:30 am on weekdays and 1:30 am on weekends. Also See| Travelling to Europe? How to get 5 year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa

Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

The village in Japan has begun erecting a wall to obstruct the view of Mount Fuji, the most famous landmark in the nation, after receiving complaints about unruly visitors. Fujikawaguchiko is installing mesh netting panels at a well-liked location where visitors congregate to take pictures of the gorgeous mountain behind a Lawson convenience store. Also See| ​Have a Japan visa? Here are six other countries you can visit visa-free

To post this comment you must

Log In/Connect with:

Fill in your details:

Will be displayed

Will not be displayed

Share this Comment: