Global tourism has fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reporting 1.4 billion foreign tourist arrivals in 2024.
This represents an 11% increase from the 1.3 billion arrivals in 2023, and is comparable to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global travel.
Europe, the world’s most visited region, saw a 5% increase in international arrivals compared to 2023. In 2024, there is a strong trend of a return to classic European destinations, with Spain consistently reigning among them.
Spain remains at the top of the most visited European countries. According to the Spanish Ministry of Tourism, a record 94 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2024. The ministry expects further increases.
The number of tourists visiting Spain increased by 10 percent compared to 2023. Tourists spent a total of 126 billion euros, the ministry reported. “Spain continues to break records,” said Industry and Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu.
The ministry estimates that by April 2025. Spain will see some 26 million visitors, up 9 percent from the same period a year ago.
The Aena Group, Spain’s largest airport operator, which manages most of the country’s airports, said it recorded a record of nearly 370 million passengers in 2024, 8.5 percent more than in 2023. Freight traffic also reached record levels.
The tourism sector accounts for more than 12 percent of Spain’s GDP, providing jobs for more than 2.5 million people, accounting for 11.6 percent of total employment. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the sector’s contribution to the Spanish economy will grow – by 2034 it could account for as much as 17 percent of GDP.
Spain attracts tourists with its diversity: from the sunny beaches of the Costa del Sol, to vibrant cities like Barcelona and Madrid, to the rich cultural heritage of Andalusia.
