Spain’s tourism sector is projected to surpass €260 billion by 2025, marking a significant economic contribution and job creation.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Spain’s tourism industry is on a trajectory to exceed €260 billion in contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025. This forecast indicates a robust growth and recovery since 2019, positioning tourism to be a key economic pillar in the country. In 2024, the sector recorded a nearly 8% increase in GDP contribution, reaching approximately €249 billion, the highest since the pre-pandemic era.
Economic and Employment Contributions
WTTC’s Economic Impact Research highlights tourism’s significant role in Spain’s economic growth, with a forecast of 4.7% per year by 2025. This sector is projected to generate 3.2 million jobs in Spain, or 14.4%. This growth is underpinned by both international and domestic tourism spending, which are forecasted to reach €113.2 billion and €84.9 billion, respectively.
Spending on International and Domestic Activities
In 2024, spending by international tourists surged by nearly 11% to €107.1 billion, while domestic tourism expenditures grew by 2.2% to €82.9 billion. Leisure travel accounted for nearly 88.3% and was significantly more expensive than business travel. The United Kingdom, France and Germany were the main source markets, with Spain showing a preference for France and Italy.
Future Projections and Global Standing
Looking beyond 2025, the WTTC anticipates the Spanish tourism sector will contribute €315.7 billion to the GDP by 2035, potentially creating 4 million jobs. Julia Simpson (President and CEO of WTTC) highlighted Spain’s resilience, dynamic nature, and commitment to sustainability and innovative as key to its future success.
Comparative Regional Data
In a broader context, the European Union’s travel and tourism sector also showed significant growth in 2024, contributing almost €1.8 trillion to the region’s GDP. This sector is expected to expand further, with projections for 2025 indicating a total economic contribution nearing €1.9 trillion and supporting approximately 25.7 million jobs.
Spain’s tourism industry is on track to reach record contributions in 2025. This will be driven by a strategic increase in both domestic and international tourism spending. Success in the sector is important not only for Spain’s economy, but also to the wider European tourism landscape. It shows a significant recovery and future growth potential.
