Spain’s tourism industry is showing slower growth this year, according to industry group Exceltur. Weaker spending by European and US visitors has reduced the sector’s overall impact on the economy.
Exceltur now projects total tourism-related activity in Spain to grow by 2.8 percent in 2025. This is a downward revision from its July estimate of 3.3 percent and a sharp decline from last year’s 5.5 percent expansion. The group also expects tourism to contribute 13.1 percent to Spain’s GDP, below the earlier forecast of 13.5 percent.
“Tourism is no longer the main dynamiser of the Spanish economy,” Exceltur Vice President Oscar Perelli said. He added that the sector will no longer outpace Spain’s overall economic growth of 2.6 percent.
The slowdown affects international tourist arrivals as well. Spain may fall short of the 100 million visitors projected earlier by the World Travel and Tourism Council. By August 2025, around 66.8 million tourists had visited, marking a 3.9 percent increase from the same period last year. Last year, Spain recorded a record 94 million tourists.
Despite slower growth, consumer spending remains positive. Sales in hotels, airlines, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses rose 2.8 percent during the high summer season, down from 6.3 percent the previous year. Exceltur expects a further 2 percent increase in sales during the fourth quarter.
The decline in Spain tourism growth is mainly linked to weaker spending by tourists from Germany, France, Turkey, and the United States. However, an increase in visitors from Britain, China, and Poland helped offset the slowdown. Domestic tourism remained stable, contributing to overall sector resilience.
Spanish Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu noted that reaching 100 million tourists may be uncertain this year. Still, he said this is not a major concern as overall tourist spending continues to rise.
The latest data underscores that Spain tourism growth is slowing compared to previous years, but the sector remains a significant contributor to the country’s economy. Rising demand from certain international markets has partially balanced weaker performance from others.
Exceltur’s findings highlight that while tourism remains important, it will no longer dramatically outpace Spain’s general economic growth, marking a shift in the sector’s role in 2025.
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