Spain Sets Record with 9.4 Million Tourists in May

Spain solidifies its position as one of the world's most attractive tourist destinations. According to the latest data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), the country welcomed 9.4 million international tourists in May, representing a 1.5% increase compared to the same month last year.

However, the most notable figure is not just the number of visitors, but the expenditure they made during their stay. In total, foreign tourists spent 12.254 billion euros in Spain, 4.9% more than in May 2024. This figure marks a new historical record for monthly international tourism spending.

Average daily spending also showed a positive trend, reaching 209 euros per person, which represents a 1.9% increase. Additionally, the average duration of trips was 6.9 days. By country, the United Kingdom remained the leading source of tourists to Spain, with over 2 million visitors, followed by Germany and France.

The regions with the highest tourist spending in May were the Balearic Islands, accounting for 19.1% of the total, Catalonia (18.7%), and Andalusia (15.5%). Spending increased by 5.3% in the Balearic Islands, while Catalonia experienced a slight decrease of 1.3%. In contrast, Andalusia recorded a notable growth of 11.1% compared to the same month last year.

68.2% of the total spending in May was made by tourists staying in hotel accommodations, with an annual increase of 1.6%. Meanwhile, spending on non-market accommodations, such as family or own homes, grew by 10.0%, showing an upward trend in this category.

Leisure remains the main driver of international tourism in Spain. Visitors arriving for this reason generated 84.0% of the total spending in May, which represented a 4.6% increase compared to the previous year.

These figures confirm that the profile of the international tourist visiting Spain continues to be that of a person travelling mainly for pleasure, staying in hotels, and organising the trip independently, although interest in package tours and stays in non-traditional accommodations is also growing.