Spain's Summer Tourism Demand Surges as Ryanair and Hotel Chains Forecast Record Season

Ryanair’s latest travel data show a sharp rise in bookings to Málaga for the coming summer. The airline now connects the Costa del Sol with 23 countries on 91 routes, with the United Kingdom supplying over 31% of the demand, followed by Italy (12%) and growing interest from Denmark. Ryanair has asked EU governments to postpone the rollout of the European Entry/Exit System (EES) until September, warning that passport‑control queues could reach one to two hours during peak travel.

Spain’s major hotel groups – Meliá, Riu, Barceló and Iberostar – all expect a record summer season. They cite solid reservation levels, rising room rates, and strong spending by tourists. While German and Belgian markets are up about 10%, the United Kingdom, historically the top source of visitors, shows a 10% decline. Iberostar projects a 12% sales increase in Spain compared with last year, and Palladium reports a 6% rise in national bookings. The chains stress the need to add value and preserve competitiveness as tourism drives significant revenue and employment for the Spanish economy.