The Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, has confirmed that 2024 will go down in history as the best year for tourism in Spain. During a press conference, Hereu unveiled record-breaking figures for international arrivals and spending, along with projections for growth in 2025. These numbers reflect a shift toward a more diversified, high-quality tourism model that has been a key focus of government policy in recent years.
Record-Breaking Figures for 2024
According to data from Turespaña, international tourist spending in Spain will increase by 16% compared to 2023, reaching a staggering €126 billion. Visitor numbers are set to rise by 10%, nearing 94 million international tourists. These figures confirm 2024 as a landmark year for Spanish tourism, reinforcing Spain’s position as a global leader in the industry.
Minister Hereu highlighted that these achievements are part of a broader strategy to enhance the quality and diversity of Spain’s tourism offerings. The government’s policies aim to boost year-round tourism and expand the range of experiences available to visitors.
Transforming Spain’s Tourism Model
A significant milestone in 2024 was the success of initiatives to reduce seasonality. Data comparing 2019 (the last pre-pandemic year) and 2024 show that visitor growth in low and mid-seasons outpaced that of the high season. Additionally, cultural and gastronomic tourism gained momentum, with cultural travel motivations up by 32% and gastronomic motivations by 28% compared to 2019.
Regional diversity also played a crucial role in this transformation. Spain’s “green” and interior regions experienced above-average growth in both visitor numbers and spending. For example, from January to November 2024, the primary tourism regions saw a 10.5% increase in visitors and a 16.5% rise in spending, while green and interior regions grew by 12.9% and 18.9%, respectively.
The appeal of Spain’s cultural, gastronomic, and natural offerings continues to attract high-value markets such as the United States, Latin America, and Asia, whose growth significantly outpaced European markets in 2024.
Outlook for 2025
The Ministry’s projections for the first four months of 2025 remain optimistic. Spain is expected to generate €36 billion in tourist spending, a 16% increase from the same period in 2024, and welcome nearly 26 million international visitors, marking a 9% rise year-over-year.
Tourism employment trends also point to sustainable growth. December 2024 saw a 3.8% increase in tourism employment compared to December 2023, with 2.6 million workers in the sector. Notably, job quality improved, with a decline in temporary contracts and a 4.4% year-on-year growth in salaried positions.
Upcoming Milestone: FITUR 2025
As Spain celebrates a record-breaking 2024, preparations for FITUR 2025 are in full swing. One of the world’s leading tourism trade fairs, FITUR will take place at IFEMA in Madrid from January 22 to 26, 2025. This year’s theme emphasizes knowledge generation and innovation as drivers of sustainability and competitiveness.
Turespaña will play a pivotal role at FITUR, with a 605 m² stand in Hall 9 showcasing Spain’s commitment to sustainable tourism. The stand will also commemorate the 40th anniversary of Turespaña. In 2024, the organization undertook over 2,000 marketing actions, including collaborations with National Geographic and Conde Nast, and initiatives tied to the America’s Cup in Barcelona. For 2025, over 130 activities are planned in partnership with Valencia and other regions.
This post was originally published on here
