Increase in U.S. Tourists by 6 Percent
In May 2025, Spain's tourism sector demonstrated a mix of positive and negative trends, with variations depending on the type of accommodation and region.
According to recent data, Spain welcomed 9.4 million international tourists in May 2025, marking a 1.5% increase over the same month in 2024 and a 5.5% increase in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
However, one of Spain's most significant tourist regions, the Costa del Sol, experienced a 3.8% decline in overnight stays in tourist accommodation, amounting to more than 420,000 fewer stays compared to May 2024. The declines primarily affected hotels and regulated tourist flats, with these sectors accounting for more than 328,000 of the lost bookings.
On a more positive note, non-hotel tourist accommodation in Spain overall saw a modest increase in overnight stays of 0.6% in May 2025. Apartments experienced a 2.2% increase, and rural tourism stays rose by 5.3%. In contrast, campsites and hostels experienced decreases of 0.7% and 9.7%, respectively.
Inland and national tourism showed strong growth, with arrivals and stays by Spanish tourists increasing by 47.4% and 42.9% respectively, helping offset losses in coastal areas like the Costa del Sol.
The United Kingdom remains the top spending market, contributing 16.1% of total tourist expenditure, followed by Germany and France. Air transport arrivals grew by 3.37% in May 2025, indicating that many international tourists arrived by air, while arrivals by road dropped by 13.69%.
While some regions like the Balearic Islands, Gerona, Cadiz, and Granada showed declines in tourist numbers and overnight stays, the Spanish tourism sector maintained growth driven by inland destinations and diversified accommodation types.
Looking back at May 2024, the tourist accommodation sector in Spain reported a total revenue of €717.0 million, with a room revenue of €550.6 million, generated solely from overnight stays in the sector. The United States was the top growing source market in terms of overnight stays, with a growth of 6.0%, while the Brazilian market experienced the largest drop among the 10 main source markets, with a decrease of 11.6%.
In conclusion, while some traditional coastal areas faced downturns, the Spanish tourism sector maintained growth driven by inland destinations and diversified accommodation types. The sector's total revenue in May 2024 increased by 8.7% compared to the same month in 2024, demonstrating the resilience of the Spanish tourism industry even in challenging times.
- Portugal, the neighboring country of Spain, reported a surge in its tourism sector in May 2025, with a significant increase in arrivals and overnight stays due to the positive trends in Spain's tourism industry, creating opportunities for cross-border collaboration in finance and business.
- A new digital segment emerged in Spain's tourism sector, with travel bloggers and influencers from Portugal delivering compelling and engaging lifestyle content, showcasing Spain's tourist destinations and hidden gems to a wider Portuguese audience, potentially boosting Spain's tourism numbers.
- In the realm of finance and investments, Portuguese venture capital firms have expressed interest in investing in Spanish businesses, including those in the tourism industry, recognizing the sector's growth and resilience, as demonstrated in the aforementioned May 2024 data. These investments could pave the way for a stronger and more interconnected tourism industry between Spain and Portugal.
