Spain sets new summer tourism record in 2025

Published on Oct 3, 2025, 7:40 pm CDT

5 min read

Spain posted a new high for peak-season arrivals, hosting 22.3 million foreign tourists across July and August 2025. The National Statistics Institute reported 11.0 million international visitors in July, up 1.6 percent year over year, and 11.3 million in August, up 2.9 percent. Year to date through August, arrivals reached about 66.8 million, a record and 3.9 percent above the same eight months of 2024. The growth comes as cities and islands grapple with overtourism, housing pressure, and crowding in popular districts.

Key points

Why it matters: Spain's summer set a new arrivals record, signaling resilient demand.
Travel impact: Continued crowding at marquee sites and tighter rules on short-term rentals in some regions.
What's next: Local and regional limits on rentals, vehicles, and party tourism are likely to expand.
Source markets: United Kingdom, France, and Germany remained the top feeders in mid-summer.
Hubs: Illes Balears, Catalonia, and Andalucía led July's destination share.
Policy tone: Officials balance economic gains with resident pushback over overtourism.

Snapshot

According to Spain's official Frontur survey, July brought 11.0 million international tourists, a 1.6 percent rise from 2024, while August set a monthly record at 11.3 million, up 2.9 percent. Over the first eight months, arrivals totaled roughly 66.8 million, 3.9 percent higher than the same period last year. Air remained the dominant mode of entry in August, followed by road and sea. In July, Illes Balears captured 23.3 percent of tourists, with Catalonia at 21.3 percent and Andalucía at 14.0 percent. The United Kingdom continued as the leading source market in July, with France and Germany close behind. Overall, Spain's summer tourism record underscores enduring demand even as regulations and community concerns intensify.

Background

Tourism remains a key engine of Spain's economy, supporting jobs and regional tax receipts across the Mediterranean coast and archipelagos. Record 2024 arrivals set the stage for another banner year in 2025. At the same time, anti-overtourism movements gathered momentum. Demonstrations in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca highlighted rising rents, neighborhood churn, and crowding near landmarks. Authorities in several jurisdictions have tightened rules on short-term rentals and signaled broader reforms. In Barcelona, the city has announced a plan to eliminate tourist apartment licenses by 2028, while the Balearic Islands have advanced measures empowering island councils to designate saturated zones and modernize existing lodging stock. The policy trajectory points toward curbing the most disruptive impacts without abandoning tourism's economic benefits.

Latest developments

Spain tourism record: 22.3 million summer arrivals amid overtourism debate

Frontur's provisional August release confirms 11.3 million international tourists, up 2.9 percent year over year, with cumulative January-August arrivals at about 66.8 million, a record pace. July's bulletin showed 11.0 million visitors, up 1.6 percent, and detailed market shares led by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, as well as destination concentration in Illes Balears, Catalonia, and Andalucía. Parallel to the strong summer, June demonstrations organized under "Southern Europe Against Overtourism" drew thousands in Barcelona, Ibiza, Málaga, and other cities, underscoring local pressure on housing and public space. Regional governments are testing levers from rental license reductions to vehicle caps on islands during peak months. Expect more targeted controls in 2026 planning, especially in districts where short-term rentals and party tourism strain resident life.

Analysis

Spain's 2025 summer confirms that headline demand remains robust even as travel patterns normalize after the post-pandemic surge. The mix of core European feeders, notably the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, continues to anchor high-season performance, while coastal and island destinations absorb the lion's share of volume. From a traveler's perspective, the immediate impacts are crowd density at icons, tighter enforcement of local rules, and potential shifts in neighborhood accommodation availability as cities restrict or phase out tourist apartment licenses. For suppliers, sustained demand supports pricing power, but operational challenges include congestion management, staffing, and compliance with evolving regional regulations.

Policy signals suggest a "fine-tuning" approach rather than blanket caps on arrivals. Barcelona's long runway to 2028 for eliminating tourist-rental licenses, and Balearic powers to designate saturated areas, allow stakeholders to adapt while redirecting stays toward regulated hotels and quieter zones. If authorities pair these measures with transit improvements and dispersion strategies, Spain can preserve scale while improving visitor experience and resident quality of life. Watch accommodation mix, length of stay, and seasonality. If autumn shoulder months continue to grow, pressure may spread beyond July-August, reinforcing the need for year-round crowd-management tools and sustainable mobility.

Final thoughts

Spain's headline is clear: another summer, another benchmark, with a new Spain tourism record in 2025. The counter-story is local. Travelers should expect fuller streets, timed entries, and stricter rental rules in hotspots, especially Barcelona, Illes Balears, and parts of Andalucía. Booking early, favoring centrally located hotels or licensed rentals, and exploring second-city or inland options can ease the experience and support community goals. Spain's ability to manage growth without eroding livability will define its next decade, but for now demand is undented and the country remains a powerhouse for leisure travel anchored by this season's Spain tourism record.