Spain welcomes 12.3 million international tourists in August - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Spain welcomed 12.3 million international tourists in August 2026, an increase of 9.2% compared with the same month last year. International tourism expenditure rose at exactly the same rate, exceeding €17.8 billion, according to the latest Frontur and Egatur figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE).

During the first eight months of the year, Spain received close to 70 million international tourists, 5.4% more than between January and August 2025. Spending grew considerably faster than arrivals, increasing by 8% to around €99.8 billion. The figures continue the trend towards higher tourism revenues alongside more moderate growth in overall visitor numbers.

Average expenditure per international tourist reached €1,455 in August, broadly unchanged from a year earlier. Daily spending increased by 1.9% to €202. Trips lasting between four and seven nights remained the largest category, accounting for more than 5.8 million visitors and increasing by 10.1% year-on-year.

UK remains the largest source market

The United Kingdom maintained its position as Spain’s most important international source market in August. Around 2.4 million British tourists visited the country, representing an increase of 9.3%. Their expenditure reached €3.37 billion, 7.6% more than in August 2025.

France ranked second with almost 2.1 million visitors, up 2.1%. French tourists spent €2.24 billion, also representing year-on-year growth of 2.1%.

Germany remained Spain’s third-largest source market. Around 1.4 million German tourists travelled to Spain during August, 4.5% more than a year earlier. Their expenditure grew considerably faster, rising by 8.2% to €1.97 billion.

Among other markets, Italy recorded a 10.6% increase in arrivals, while visitor numbers from Switzerland jumped by 29.3%. Tourism expenditure from the Nordic countries increased by 18.6%, while spending from markets grouped under the “Rest of the World” category rose by 12.1%.

Andalusia records strongest arrival growth

The Balearic Islands remained Spain’s leading international tourism destination in August, receiving 21.2% of all foreign visitors. Catalonia followed with a share of 19.4%, ahead of Andalusia with 16.8%.

Arrivals in the Balearics increased by 2.6% compared with August 2025, while Catalonia recorded growth of 9.1%. Andalusia stood out with a 21.3% increase in international tourists, the strongest growth among Spain’s major destination regions during the month.

Tourism expenditure showed a similar pattern. International visitors spent 4.2% more in the Balearic Islands and 7.2% more in Catalonia than a year earlier. Andalusia recorded an 18.8% increase.

Growth was even stronger outside Spain’s principal tourism regions. International tourist expenditure in the statistical category covering the remaining autonomous communities increased by 22.3%. The result indicates that the rise in international tourism spending is becoming more geographically distributed rather than being concentrated exclusively in Spain’s traditional Mediterranean and island destinations.

The August figures also show that longer stays continued to gain ground. Visitor numbers among tourists staying for more than 15 nights increased by 8.9%, while the number of same-day international visitors rose by 3%. With spending growing faster than arrivals over the first eight months of 2026, Spain continues to generate higher tourism revenues without relying solely on increases in visitor volume.

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