Home » Spain Travel News » Spain Joins United Kingdom, Germany, France and Others In Tourism Growth As International Tourist Spending Surges In July 2025
Published on
September 4, 2025
Spain’s international tourist spending in July 2025 soared to 16,452 million euros, reflecting a 6.1% year-on-year increase. This surge highlights the sustained popularity of Spain as a global travel destination, with visitors indulging more in lodging, dining, and activities. The average daily spend climbed by 6.9% to 210 euros, indicating a trend toward richer tourist experiences despite slightly shorter trips on average.
Growth in Tourist Spending Enhances Economy
International visitors contributed robustly to Spain’s economy in July. Total expenditure reached 16,452 million euros, rising by 6.1% compared to July 2024. The average amount spent per tourist climbed to 1,493 euros with an annual increase of 4.4%. Even though the average length of trips shortened by 2.4%, daily spending rose 6.9% to 210 euros, showing tourists are optimizing their time and budget.
This robust spending boost reflects increasing demand for Spain’s diverse tourism offerings, from cultural sites to coastal retreats and gourmet cuisine.
Spending Distribution Among Main Sectors
Tourist expenses distributed across several key sectors, demonstrating broad economic benefits:
Accommodation: Largest share at 20.5%, increasing by 8.6%International Transport (excluding packages): Accounted for 18.9%, up 7.9%Activities and Events: Comprising 18.4%, with a 7.2% riseFood and Drink: Representing 15.5%, increasing 3.6%Other expenditures: 8.8%, growing by 2.3%
These figures underline the importance of varied travel-related services and experiences in driving Spain’s tourism revenue.
Leading Countries by Tourist Spending
The United Kingdom ranked highest in tourist expenditure, making up 17.6% of July’s total. Germany and France followed with 9.6% and 8.9%, respectively. While UK tourist spending rose by 1.9% annually, Germany and France saw declines of 5.3% and 2.1%.
Other countries contributing strongly include Italy and the Nordic countries, where expenditure increased by 13.3% and 11.0%, respectively. Tourists from the rest of the world spent 8,703 million euros, up 10.3%.
Ordered summary of contributions:
United Kingdom: €2,902 million (+1.9%)Germany: €1,575 million (-5.3%)France: €1,465 million (-2.1%)Italy: €651 million (+13.3%)Nordic countries: €1,156 million (+11.0%)Rest of world: €8,703 million (+10.3%)Cumulative Spend Reflects Tourism Trends
From January to July 2025, cumulative international tourist spending rose 7.2%, reaching 76,074 million euros. The United Kingdom maintained the lead with 17.6% of total expenditure, followed by Germany (11.7%) and France (8.1%).
This ongoing growth signals a robust recovery and expansion in Spain’s tourism market, attracting a diverse international audience.
Tourist Preferences and Travel Patterns
Accommodation spending favors hotels, which accounted for 63.4% of total expenditure in July, growing 6.3%. Non-market lodging, such as stays with family or owned homes, saw even higher growth at 10.5%.
Regarding trip organization:
Tourists traveling without package tours increased spending by 7.7%Package tour travelers’ spending grew modestly at 1.3%Main Motives Behind Visits
Leisure tourism dominates, contributing 90.8% of total expenditure in July. Spending by leisure visitors rose 5.8% annually. Business travel expenditure grew sharply by 25%, while other travel purposes remained relatively flat, showing tourism’s dominance in Spain’s economy.
Regional Tourist Spending Patterns
Spain’s provinces reveal interesting disparities in tourist spending:
Balearic Islands: €3,833 million (+1.6%)Catalonia: €3,288 million (+5.2%)Valencian Community: €2,225 million (+8.3%)Canary Islands: €2,219 million (+14.1%)Andalusia: €2,183 million (+7.7%)Madrid: €1,522 million (+7.4%)
The Canary Islands showed the strongest growth, reflecting its appeal as a vibrant vacation hotspot.
Overview
Spain’s tourism sector is thriving with international visitors spending more each day. The rise in accommodation, transport, and activity expenses confirms that tourists are seeking quality and varied experiences. The diverse spending from leading countries, combined with regional growth, demonstrates Spain’s broad appeal across different traveler types. This sustained spending momentum underscores Spain’s revered position on the global tourism stage.
