Global tourism trends show record employment in Spain and spending declines in Mexico

Global tourism and hospitality sectors are showing divergent trends across different regions in 2026.

In Spain, the sector reached a record high of 3.18 million employees in the second quarter, with a 5.4% increase compared to the previous year. The industry is seeing increased job stability, with permanent contracts making up 84.5% of the workforce.

Conversely, Mexico's Caribbean region is facing challenges, with international tourism spending dropping 18.4% in the first quarter of 2026. While domestic tourism provides some stability, there are concerns regarding hotel occupancy and employment in the nautical sector.

In Paraguay, the hotel sector grew by 43% in the first half of the year, driven by business tourism and visitors from Argentina and Brazil. In Ecuador, the August holidays are expected to generate $65 million, with projections of over one million travelers.

Other localized trends include a 43% growth in Paraguay's hotel sector and an increase in tourist stays in Almería, Spain, which averaged 6.3 days in the first half of the year.