With more than 85 million international visitors and destination spending surpassing 108 billion euros, Spain posted record-breaking figures that reinforce its status as a leading global tourist destination. The tourism industry contributed 186.596 billion euros to the economy, accounting for 12.8% of GDP and driving 70.8% of national economic growth.
Furthermore, the sector’s momentum spurred the creation of 95,224 new jobs in 2023, lowering the temporary employment rate to 8% and representing 17% of total employment in Spain. This growth has earned worldwide recognition, reinforcing Spain as the world’s second-largest tourism power according to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Travel & Tourism Development Index for 2024.
Following these record results, the Instituto Coordenadas de Gobernanza y Economía Aplicada (Icgea) published a new analysis that recognizes twenty public and private entities for their relevance and value-added contributions across the tourism value chain.
Jesús Sánchez Lambás, the Icgea executive vice president, remarked that the policies, strategies, and initiatives led by industry leaders have been pivotal not only in the sector’s pandemic recovery but also in its ongoing transformation and outward reach, cementing tourism as a cornerstone of sustainable economic growth in Spain.
Companies
[Summary note: Public sector highlights include the Ministry of Industry and Tourism and its work on Spain’s 2030 Sustainable Tourism Strategy, aimed at addressing medium- and long-term sector challenges and moving toward higher value-added, higher-quality tourism; and Turespaña, which collaborates closely with the private sector to maintain Spain’s competitiveness as a destination. AENA is also featured for closing a landmark year with revenues of 5.1418 billion euros, with leadership focused on airport expansion and modernization, driving job creation and related tourism industries.
Private sector leaders include Amadeus, a global travel technology provider operating in more than 190 markets with a team exceeding 18,000 employees from over 150 nationalities.
In the hotel sector, Meliá Hotels International stands as one of the world’s largest and a leader in Spain. Under Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, the group has transformed and expanded significantly. Grupo Barceló is also highlighted, achieving a record 6.7 billion euros in revenue and ranking among the world’s top ten hotel brands.
Other major players include NH Hotel Group and RIU Hotels & Resorts, ranking as the 33rd largest hotel group globally, the second-largest in Spain by revenue, and fourth by room count. Palladium Hotel Group and Grupo Iberostar are noted for operating more than 100 hotels and leading sustainable practices in hospitality.
In the leisure and entertainment sphere, PortAventura World stands out as Spain’s most popular theme park and among the top 20 worldwide, attracting over 5.5 million visitors in 2023. The resort directly employs more than 2,000 people and has strengthened strategic partnerships to broaden its influence in the entertainment and tourism ecosystem.
Iberia and Vueling are foundational to Spain’s airline industry. Iberia remains the most valuable Spanish airline brand and sits within the global top 30 by brand value, while Vueling has emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing carriers. Globalia, which includes Air Europa, Be Live Hotels, and Halcón Viajes, alongside Air Nostrum, a regional airline leader in Europe with over 75,000 flights and more than 5.2 million annual passengers, also feature prominently.
Additionally, eDreams ODIGEO stands out for pioneering subscription-based travel products that serve over 21 million customers across 44 markets, collaborating with nearly 700 airlines. As a travel agency, Viajes El Corte Inglés remains a major player with more than 500 offices.
Finally, Exceltur, the Tourism Table of Spain, and the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV) are highlighted for driving digitalization, modernization, and professionalization within the sector.