Spain’s tourism in 2025 is breaking records. In July, more than 11.7 million international passengers arrived by air, an increase of 4.3% from last year.
The growth puts the country on track to welcome as many as 100 million foreign visitors this year.
Strong growth across airports, regions
Between January and July, Spain handled nearly 64 million international arrivals, 6% higher than in 2024. Madrid’s Barajas Airport led with 2.2 million July passengers. Barcelona followed with 2 million, while Palma de Mallorca reached 1.8 million.
Alicante Airport posted the sharpest rise, with an 8.3% increase.
Six regions absorbed nearly all arrivals: Madrid, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Andalusia, and Valencia. Valencia grew at the fastest rate, 8.2%, while the Balearic Islands experienced slower growth, at 1.2%.
United Kingdom remains main source
Official figures reported that British travelers remain Spain’s largest market. In July, 2.7 million passengers arrived from the UK, 23% of the total.
That figure was up 4% from 2024. The Balearic Islands attracted 27% of these visitors, followed by the Canary Islands at 21%.
Jorge Espinós, CEO of VB Group, noted that British, German, and French incomes have risen since the pandemic while Spanish wages have stayed flat. “For them, Spain remains a budget-friendly destination,” he said.
Mixed results in other European markets
On the other hand, German arrivals dipped slightly, down 0.6% overall. The Balearic Islands, Germany’s top destination in Spain, saw a 3.2% fall.
Catalonia also posted a slight decline. The Canary Islands experienced a 6.1% growth rate.
Italy saw 1.1 million arrivals, a 5% increase. Madrid and Catalonia captured most of this growth, while the Basque Country and the Canary Islands also saw increases of more than 10%.
France welcomed approximately 868,000 travelers, accounting for 7.4% of July arrivals. The Balearic Islands accounted for the strongest growth in France.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands contributed 4.9% of arrivals, representing an 11.1% increase. Most Dutch visitors went to Catalonia and Valencia.
Arrivals from China, South Korea, Turkey, and Colombia increased in July, indicating that Spain’s appeal is spreading beyond Europe. Japan also showed early signs of recovery.
Economic gains, local concerns
Spain’s climate, infrastructure, culture, and prices continue to attract visitors. Yet the surge has come as domestic travel weakens.
Official data shows that 22% of Spanish residents could not afford trips this summer due to higher hotel and service costs.
Tourism revenue is rising, but pressure on infrastructure is becoming more visible. Communities in high-demand areas, such as the Balearics and Costa Blanca, reported concerns over transport, housing, and public services.
New travel rules could reshape visitor experience
The surge in Spain’s passenger numbers comes just before the EU introduces the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). Starting in late 2026, travelers from visa-exempt countries, including the UK and US, will have to apply online before visiting Schengen states.
For most short-term tourists, this will mean filling out a form and paying a modest fee, a step simpler than applying for a visa.
For those who make frequent trips—whether for work, family visits, or extended stays—the system will add an extra layer of routine checks. ETIAS approval lasts for three years, but every entry will still be monitored more closely than it is today.
The rise in traffic to Spain provides context for the change: EU governments aim to track arrivals more effectively at a time when visitor numbers are increasing. Migrants already living in Europe may also feel the ripple effects, as border controls tighten oversight of overstays and unauthorized work.
Tourism pressures feed into migration debates
Spain’s record summer is not only about leisure. Millions of extra arrivals mean more demand for seasonal labor, temporary housing, and public services. These are the same areas that feature heavily in EU discussions about migration.
Southern states, such as Spain, Italy, and Greece, argue that tourism and migration cannot be separated, as both depend on cross-border mobility. Strong demand from visitors often strengthens the case for more flexible short-term work permits, particularly in the hospitality and agriculture sectors.
At the same time, rising entries make northern members more cautious, prompting them to press for stricter external border checks.
The effect is uneven but clear: high tourist arrivals lend weight to both sides of the immigration debate—those advocating for more legal pathways to support the economy, and those advocating for tighter rules to manage entry.
Spain’s tourism on track for a record year
With nearly 64 million international arrivals recorded so far in 2025, Spain is edging closer to a historic milestone. The question now is whether this pace will carry the country past 100 million visitors by the end of the year.