Spain tourism sector forecast 2.7% growth in 2025 amid Middle East conflict

Tourism in Spain is expected to grow by 2.7% in 2025, adding roughly €228.4 billion in value, according to a revised forecast by the tourism‑excellence association Exceltur. The upward revision from 2.5% reflects a stronger second‑quarter performance, with sales up 4.2% and a 3.4% rise in the tourism‑related contribution to GDP. The sector attributes the growth to Spain’s perceived safety and attractive destinations, which have mitigated the negative impact of the Iran‑related Middle East conflict on travelers’ disposable income. Business leaders note an 8.2% increase in foreign spending and an 8.3% rise in domestic tourism spend, while also flagging higher energy costs, absenteeism and the recent Supreme Court ruling that removed unregistered tourist accommodations, cutting illegal capacity by about 10%.

At the same time, travelers heading outside the euro area are weighing payment options. A recent European Central Bank survey shows that 52% of in‑store purchases in the eurozone are still made with cash, but many prefer cards that waive foreign‑exchange fees. CaixaBank has introduced two travel‑focused cards – the “imagin” card, which eliminates currency‑conversion and ATM‑withdrawal fees, and the prepaid “MoneyToTravel” card, which offers the same fee‑free foreign‑currency transactions together with benefits such as a 1 GB eSIM, travel insurance, fraud protection and airport‑lounge access. These products aim to reduce transaction costs and improve expense control for both leisure and business travellers.