Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s tourism spending record is no longer a summer headline. It is now a year-round story — and the latest figures suggest a quiet shift in how visitors are travelling, not just how many are coming.
New data released on 2 January 2026 shows international visitors spent €126.707bn in Spain between January and November 2025 — already more than the total for all of 2024.
At the same time, demand for non-hotel accommodation edged higher in November, led by holiday apartments and campgrounds, while rural stays and hostels went backwards.
The money keeps rising, even as growth cools
Spain welcomed 5.8 million international tourists in November, up 2.1% year-on-year, according to the INE’s border-movement survey.
Spending rose faster than arrivals. Visitors spent €8.094bn in November alone, up 5.0%, with average daily spend rising to €188.
That mix — slower growth in headcount, stronger growth in euros — is feeding a broader debate across Spain about “quality tourism”, pricing pressure, and how to stop destinations buckling under their own success.
Britain still tops the spending table
British visitors remained the biggest spenders. In November, the UK accounted for 16.1% of total international tourist spend, with UK spending up 12.7% year-on-year.
Over the first 11 months of 2025, the UK also led cumulative spending at 17.8%, ahead of Germany (11.8%) and France (8.7%).
On arrivals, the UK was also the largest market in November, with just over one million visitors.
Where the cash goes: transport first, then experiences
The biggest slice of November spending went on international transport not included in package holidays (22.4%). Activities (20.5%) and accommodation (17.3%) followed.
Hotels still dominated the bill, accounting for 57.6% of total spend in November. But spending linked to package holidays grew faster than independent travel — up 10.4% versus 3.6%.
Leisure remained the main driver: 81% of November’s spending was tied to holidays rather than business or other reasons.
The Canary Islands owned November — and not just in hotels
If there was one clear winter winner, it was the Canary Islands.
They took 27.7% of total tourist spending in November, making them the top region by spend for the month, ahead of Catalonia and the Community of Madrid.
On arrivals, the islands were also the leading destination in November, with 25.3% of all international tourists naming them as their main stop.
And in holiday apartments, the Canary Islands were in a league of their own: 2.3 million apartment overnights in November, plus an eye-watering 85.3% occupancy rate.
Apartments push ahead as rural tourism slips
Across Spain, non-hotel stays (apartments, campsites, rural accommodation and hostels) totalled just over 7.0 million overnight stays in November, up 3.6% year-on-year.
Apartments did the heavy lifting. Apartment overnights rose 7.9%, and nearly four in five nights (78.7%) were booked by non-residents. The UK was again the top market, making up 27.9%
Campsites grew more modestly, up 1.5%, with Germany the largest source market (38.3% of non-resident camping nights).
But the weaker spots were telling. Rural accommodation overnights fell 8.3%, and hostels dropped 10.9%, suggesting some of the budget and off-season travel is tightening.
Madrid’s spending jump hints at a city-break winter
While the Canary Islands led the month, Madrid stood out for momentum. The Community of Madrid posted the fastest growth in spending in November, up 14.6% year-on-year.
That fits a pattern the industry has been watching: shorter breaks, higher daily budgets, and more city-and-culture travel outside the traditional peak months.
The pressure point for 2026: beds, not beaches
Spain’s tourism spending record brings obvious economic upside — jobs, tax receipts, and a longer season for many businesses.
But the accommodation shift matters. More apartment demand can mean more competition for long-term rentals, sharper political scrutiny of tourist lets, and growing pressure on neighbourhoods already stretched by housing costs.
The next big question is whether Spain can keep the money coming in without deepening the friction: a country selling sunshine and city breaks, while trying to protect the everyday life that makes those places worth visiting in the first place.