A record 97 million tourists visited Spain in 2025, with the country expecting to reach 100 million visitors in 2026, making it the world’s second-biggest tourist destination, just behind France.
Foreign arrival numbers into the country have broken records each year since the Covid pandemic, with the Spanish tourism industry experiencing a remarkable recovery. The outbreak of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran has made Spain an attractive alternative to Middle Eastern holiday destinations, such as Dubai, and countries in the eastern Mediterranean, including Turkey and Cyprus.
Spain Tourism Boom
Industry experts attribute the surge in tourism to Spain’s perceived safety and security, with tourists opting for the country over destinations in the Middle East. Fede Fuster, president of the local tourism association in Benidorm, notes that “in these moments of crisis, of [military] strikes or wars, the bookings always increase.”
Spain’s official tourist arrival figures support this trend, with the country receiving 9.1 million international visitors in April, a new high for the month. This was 5.2% more than April 2025, with an additional 450,000 visitors.
Tourism directly contributes 13% of Spain’s GDP, making it a crucial component of the country’s growth in recent years. However, the industry faces concerns over rising fuel costs and growing anger among local residents at the impact tourism is having on their home environments.
Tourism Impact and Concerns
Locals are protesting against perceived excessive visitor numbers, citing congestion, environmental impact, and the exacerbation of Spain’s housing crisis. A Europe-wide YouGov poll found that 28% of Spaniards have a negative view of foreign tourism, with two-thirds sympathizing with the protests.
As Spain’s tourism industry continues to grow, it must balance the needs of visitors with the concerns of local residents, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are shared by all. The country’s ability to manage its tourism industry sustainably will be crucial to its long-term success and economic growth.
