Spain Sets Historic Record with Over 17 Million Tourists in Q1 2025

Spain has achieved an unprecedented milestone in its tourism industry, surpassing 17 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of 2025, according to data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This achievement solidifies the upward trend observed in 2024 and positions the country on track to reach 100 million tourists by year-end, reinforcing its status as a global leader in the sector.

March was particularly standout, with nearly 6.6 million travelers, a record for the period, despite Easter Week, a traditional tourism magnet, falling in April. January and February also set milestones, each exceeding five million visitors, contributing to a cumulative growth of 5.68% for the quarter. However, comparisons with 2024 are influenced by Easter Week’s inclusion in the prior year.

UK, France, and the US Lead Source Markets

The traditional key source markets —United Kingdom, France, and Germany— accounted for 42% of the total, with 7.28 million tourists. The UK retained its lead with over 3.1 million travelers, up 4.6%. France overtook Germany as the second-largest market, with 2.12 million visitors and a 7.1% increase, while Germany saw a slight 0.1% decline, with 2.05 million. The Nordic countries also recorded a 1.3% drop, the only major markets to decline.

Outside Europe, the United States emerged as a key market, contributing 697,086 tourists (4% of the total) and an 11% growth. This rise, which hit 11.6% in March, persisted despite the dollar’s weakness against the euro, which increased travel costs to Europe. The dollar’s 4.1% depreciation in March, compounded by an additional 4.8% drop in April following new tariff policies under President Donald Trump, did not deter American travelers.

Spain registered 17 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of 2025. Source: Pixabay.

A More Sustainable, High-Value Tourism Model

Tourist spending also reached historic levels, totaling €23.506 billion, a 7.2% increase from 2024. This growth, outpacing the rise in arrivals, reflects the success of the government’s strategy to promote higher-quality tourism.

Industry and Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu emphasized that “the data confirm the transition to a tourism model rooted in social, environmental, and economic sustainability.” Hereu highlighted the importance of diversifying destinations, reducing seasonality, and digitalizing the sector to equitably distribute benefits across the country.

The average spend per tourist reached €1,378 (+1.46%), while daily spending grew 4.6% to €179. Madrid led the regions, with an average spend per traveler of €1,869—35% above the national average—and a daily spend of €277, 54.7% higher. This performance is driven by a stronger presence of non-EU markets, such as the US (231,345 tourists, daily spend of €274) and Mexico (114,058 tourists, daily spend of €378), offsetting lower reliance on European markets.

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism reaffirmed its commitment to a model that balances global leadership with sustainability. Strategies to deconcentrate destinations, diversify experiences, and promote digitalization aim to solidify Spain’s position as a world reference. With a historic first quarter and optimistic projections for 2025, Spain is poised to maintain its global appeal while advancing toward a more responsible, high-value tourism model.