Ana M. López
Research expert covering travel, tourism and hospitality
Tourism sector in Spain - statistics & facts
Spain is an established tourism market in Europe – the region with the most tourist arrivals worldwide – and globally. In 2022, Spain registered more than 100 million international visitors, recovering by 187.2 percent and 102.6 percent versus 2020 and 2021, respectively. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the Iberian country counted more than 120 million international visitors until reaching the record mark of 126.2 million. That figure represented more than 2.5 times Spain’s total population, which adds up to around 48 million people. Tourism is, therefore, one of the major drivers of the Spanish economy. In 2019, the gross value added (GVA) of industries related to tourist accommodation and food services in Spain reached over 70 billion euros. But the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic negatively impacted these figures in 2020, though the recovery was already in sight in the following year.
Who visits Spain the most?
The international recognition of Spain as an attractive travel destination has drawn visitors from all around the world. However, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom topped the list of leading source markets for tourism in Spain in 2022. These three European nations accounted for nearly 35 million foreign tourists that year, or roughly half of the total international tourism volume during those twelve months. From outside Europe, the United States and Mexico were the most popular countries of origin among foreign visitors in Spain in 2022. Among the many reasons to visit the Iberian country, many do so to enjoy its wineries and wine museums. In 2022, the number of visitors to wineries and wine museums in Spain was nearly 2.5 million.How popular is domestic tourism in Spain?
Spain’s wineries, beaches, and mountains are not only a popular destination for international tourists but domestic tourists as well. The number of domestic trips in Spain amounted to over 155 million in 2022, an increase of roughly 14 percent from the previous year’s total of around 135 million. The country is made up of 17 autonomous communities each with its own unique geography. Andalusia was the most popular travel destination among domestic tourists in Spain in 2022, registering nearly 28 million trips by residents of the country. Catalonia and the Valencian Community followed in the ranking that year with 24.16 and 17.93 million trips, respectively. Overall, the number of domestic trips taken by Spanish residents that year well exceeded the number of outbound trips taken by Spanish residents.
