The economic impact of this tourism boom is significant. According to the study ‘Financial and Non-Financial Information on the Tourism Sector in Spain’ by the Spanish General Council of Economists (CGE), the country's tourism Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 3.6% in 2025, after the 6% estimated for 2024, again exceeding the growth of the Spanish economy as a whole.
This increase would put tourism's contribution to national GDP at 13.2%, an increase of two percentage points compared to 2024.
Domestic tourism also shows positive signs, with a projected growth of 1.2% by 2025. For its part, international tourism could experience an increase of 4.5%, consolidating Spain as the second most visited country in the world, according to data from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
However, this growth poses significant challenges. Tourism overcrowding in popular destinations has reignited debates about sustainability and environmental impact. Communities such as Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Andalusia and the Valencian Community, which concentrate the largest number of tourists, face challenges related to seasonality and pressure on local resources. The Valencian Community, in particular, has experienced the highest growth at national level since 2019.
In response to these challenges, the Spanish tourism sector is taking steps to balance economic growth with sustainability and social well-being. Digitalisation and the application of sustainability criteria in hotel and transport management have become key factors of competitiveness. The use of artificial intelligence in the self-management of travel, energy optimisation in accommodation and the commitment to more sustainable mobility models are growing trends that seek to mitigate the negative effects of mass tourism.
In addition, the diversification of the tourism offer is being promoted to attract segments with greater added value. Cultural and gastronomic tourism has gained prominence, offering authentic experiences that enrich the Spanish offer and better distribute tourist flows throughout the territory.
This strategy not only seeks to increase spending per tourist, but also to reduce concentration in traditional destinations and encourage the development of lesser-known areas.
The Mexican outbound market has shown remarkable growth, exceeding one million tourists for the first time in 2024 and reaching an expenditure of 2,940 million euros, which represents an increase of 44% over the previous year. This increase reflects the diversification of source markets and Spain's capacity to attract tourists from different regions of the world.
On the other hand, business tourism also has a positive outlook. It is estimated that investment in business travel in Spain could reach 15,600 million euros in 2025, 25% more than in 2018. This growth is accompanied by increased investment in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segment, whose share could rise from 20% to 25-30% of all Spanish business travel.
Globally, the tourism sector continues to recover from the pandemic. By 2024, tourism's contribution to global GDP is expected to reach $11.1 billion, an increase of 7.5% from peak levels in 2019. This growth translates into the creation of millions of jobs and increased investment in tourism infrastructure and services around the world.
