Spain’s Tourism Boom Keeps Heating Up Through Winter
Tourism in Spain remains robust even in the heart of winter. After the record-breaking pace of 2023, the sector continues to grow markedly. January brought almost 4.77 million international visitors, a 15.3% rise, while traveler spending surged to 6.55 billion euros, up 25.5% from the previous year, according to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
“The steady growth in tourist numbers, especially in spending, should serve as a catalyst for continued public policies that boost social, environmental, and digital sustainability in the sector”, noted the Minister of Industry and Tourism. He added that leading as a destination is always good news, and ongoing efforts should position Spain not only as a favorite holiday spot but also as a benchmark for the new global tourism industry (Jordi Hereu, minister statements).
Canaries Lead the Way
January is typically a slow month for Spain as a whole, but the Canary Islands buck the trend with one of its strongest winter periods. The archipelago accounted for 27.7% of all visitors in January, drawing 1.3 million tourists and recording a 9.2% year-on-year increase. Catalonia followed with more than 958,700 international visitors, up 20.3%, while Andalusia attracted over 666,300 travelers, a rise of 17.4% (regional breakdowns based on INE data).
Additionally, the United Kingdom remained the top source market for January, recording 833,416 visitors, up 12.3% from January 2023. France sent 571,774 visitors, an 18% gains, and Germany contributed 551,305 visitors, up 14.9% (country-level figures drawn from INE reporting).
Spending Surges
Spanish visitors spent 6.549 billion euros on arrangements and on-site expenditures in January, another record and a 25.5% increase over last year. This spike reflects both the influx of travelers and rising prices across travel services during the period.
Two key metrics illustrate a higher-spending, higher-quality tourism profile: average spend per traveler and average stay. On average, each tourist spent 1,374 euros in January, up 8.9% from the previous year, while the mean accommodation expenditure also rose, with daily spend reaching 158 euros, a 6% year-on-year increase. In November, the average spend per traveler was 1,294 euros, reflecting continued growth, and the average stay length has remained favorable to local businesses.
The INE conducts the tourism expenditure survey known as Egatur, while the Bank of Spain tracks tourism income through the balance of payments. The two datasets can diverge because Egatur includes all traveler spending, including transport costs incurred with foreign carriers, whereas the balance of payments excludes transport expenditures. This yields a notable gap between the two measures, yet both point to a robust tourism economy in the country (INE and Bank of Spain data providers).