Spain aims for 100 million tourists in 2026

Spain’s tourism ministry says the country is on track to welcome 100 million foreign visitors in 2026, up from a record 96.8 million in 2025 – a 3.2 % increase year‑on‑year. Officials forecast about 43 million arrivals between June and September, 6 % more than last summer, and expect tourist spending of €64 billion during that period, roughly 10 % higher than in 2025. The surge is attributed to travelers avoiding conflict‑affected areas in the Middle East and to a total solar eclipse on 12 August that is driving bookings in inland “Green Spain” regions. May‑2026 data showed international tourists spent €13.55 billion, a 10.9 % rise, with 10.3 million arrivals and an average spend of €1,321 per visitor. The United Kingdom, Germany and France were the top source markets, while Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Madrid captured the largest share of spending. The ministry highlighted that inland destinations are seeing faster growth than traditional coastal hotspots and urged regional authorities to manage tourism to mitigate overtourism pressures.