Photo Credit: Vogue Magazine
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) predicts that Spain’s travel and tourism industry could hit a record high by 2025, contributing approximately €260.5 billion to the country’s GDP—nearly 16% of the national economy.
Based on the latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), conducted in partnership with Oxford Economics, these projections emphasize tourism’s vital role as a key driver of Spain’s economy, with an expected annual growth rate of 4.7%. WTTC further estimates that by the end of 2025, the sector will support around 3.2 million jobs, representing 14.4% of total employment.
International tourism expenditure is forecasted to reach €113.2 billion, reflecting a 5.7% year-on-year increase, while domestic tourism spending is expected to total €84.9 billion, up 2.4% from the previous year.
Julia Simpson, WTTC President and CEO, stated: “Spain continues to be a leading global tourism powerhouse. The data demonstrates a vibrant, resilient, and innovative sector that not only fuels economic growth but also creates quality employment opportunities and fosters regional development. With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, Spain is well-positioned to shape the future of global tourism, even amid challenging international conditions.”
In 2024, Spain’s tourism sector had its highest performance since 2019, contributing nearly €248.7 billion to GDP—about 15.6% of the economy—and employing around 3 million people, nearly 14% of total employment. International visitor spending increased by 10.9% year-on-year to €107.1 billion, while domestic expenditure grew by 2.2%, reaching €82.9 billion. These segments accounted for 56.4% and 43.6% of total tourism expenditure, respectively. Leisure travel made up the vast majority of spending at 88.3%, with business travel comprising 11.7%.
The primary source countries for inbound visitors in 2024 included the United Kingdom (20%), France (14%), and Germany (13%). The most visited destinations within Spain by Spanish residents were France (25%), Italy (14%), the United Kingdom (8%), and Portugal (8%).
Future Outlook
Looking ahead to 2035, WTTC projects the tourism sector could contribute €315.7 billion to Spain’s GDP—more than 17% of the economy—and generate around 4 million jobs, representing an increase of 700,000 employment opportunities.
Regional Perspective: European Union
In 2024, the EU’s travel and tourism sector contributed nearly €1.8 trillion to regional GDP, accounting for over 10% of the economy, surpassing 2019 figures by close to 6%. The sector supported approximately 24.6 million jobs, with employment growing by 4.7% year-on-year, comprising around one in nine regional jobs. Domestic travel expenditure reached €1 trillion, while international visitor spending totalled €515 billion.
By 2025, WTTC forecasts the EU’s travel and tourism contribution will reach nearly €1.9 trillion, representing 10.5% of regional GDP, supporting an estimated 25.7 million jobs—12% of the total regional employment. International tourism expenditure is expected to grow by over 11% to €573 billion, with domestic spending increasing by 1.6% to more than €1.1 trillion.
