Spain welcomed roughly 9.1 million international visitors in July, marking a solid rebound for the country’s tourism sector. The National Institute of Statistics reports a year-over-year surge of more than 100 percent compared with July 2021, underscoring how quickly traveler demand recovered after the pandemic lull. Even more telling is the momentum carried into the year’s first seven months, when international arrivals surpassed 39 million. These figures signal a sustained revival in inbound tourism and a renewed appetite for Spain as a top destination for travelers from North America and beyond.
Visitors spent significantly, boosting Spain’s economy. Expenditures reached about 11.9 billion euros in July, reflecting a remarkable rise over July 2021, which stood around 5.2 billion euros. This surge in spending mirrors broad confidence among international travelers and a willingness to allocate more for activities, experiences, and accommodations while visiting the country.
The July uptick continues a longer trend of monthly gains, placing Spain on thirteen consecutive months of rising international arrivals and outlays. This pattern follows a period of slower travel during the height of the health crisis, now replaced by a steady climb in both arrivals and spending as confidence returns and travel options broaden for travelers from Canada, the United States, and other markets.
Looking at the year to date, the first seven months of the year brought nearly 39.3 million international visitors, a dramatic increase over the same period last year, when arrivals totaled around 9.8 million. This sharp rebound demonstrates how quickly global travel resumed and how Spain remains a premier choice for travelers seeking culture, cuisine, coastlines, and diverse experiences.
Among the main sources of visitors, the United Kingdom remained the leading country of residence with about 1.9 million travelers, accounting for roughly 21 percent of the total and showing a substantial rise versus July 2021. France and Germany followed closely, with France contributing more than 1.4 million visitors—an annual increase around 60 percent—and Germany recording about 1.1 million arrivals, up roughly 55 percent. These shifts reflect evolving tourist preferences and the broad appeal of Spain across Western European markets as well as North American travelers who are increasingly returning to their travel plans.
The growth in tourist numbers is matched by higher visitor spending. The average expenditure per tourist reached about 1,309 euros, up around 10 percent from the previous year, while average daily spending rose about 17 percent to 170 euros. This indicates that travelers are not only visiting more but also investing more per trip, boosting the overall impact of tourism on local economies and businesses across urban centers and popular coastal regions alike.
On average, international travelers stayed about 7.7 days in the country, a slight decrease from the prior year’s July. This shift suggests more efficient itineraries and a preference for a brisk but fulfilling visit that balances city explorations with regional experiences across Spain’s diverse landscapes.
As the first seven months of the year concluded, total tourism expenditure by international visitors rose to roughly 47.6 billion euros, representing a substantial year-over-year increase. Taken together, the rising arrivals and higher spend demonstrate Spain’s continued strength as a destination that attracts travelers from North America and Europe alike, driving tourism revenue and related hospitality activities across the country.