Spain Economy Shows Strong Growth in Tourism Industry

• International tourists spent 86.4 billion euros in Spain from January to August 2024, an increase of 17.55% compared to 2023.
• 64.3 million tourists visited Spain in the first eight months of 2024, 11.18% more than last year.
• Employment in tourism grew by 5.5% in August, with more than 150,000 new jobs created.
• The Canary Islands recorded a 9.7% increase in international visitors in August, contributing almost 2 billion euros.
• The IV Turespaña Congress will focus on digitalisation and sustainability to improve Spain's tourism economy.

This figure represents an increase of 17.55% on the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). During these eight months, 64.3 million tourists visited Spain, an increase of 11.18%.

At the opening of the IV Turespaña Convention in Tenerife, the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, highlighted these positive developments and stressed Spain's commitment to economic, social and environmental sustainability in the tourism sector.

Hereu stressed the importance of diversification and digital transformation within the tourism industry to ensure economic prosperity in all of Spain's regions. In August alone, tourism employment grew by 5.5%, adding more than 150,000 new jobs, bringing the total number of people employed in Spain's tourism industry to almost 2.9 million.

In the same month, 10.9 million international tourists visited Spain, contributing €15.36 billion to the economy, an increase of 12.9% on the previous year. The Canary Islands were a major destination, welcoming 1.16 million tourists who spent nearly 2 billion euros.

In August, the number of tourists visiting Spain rose by 7.3% year-on-year, according to the INE. The growth in visitor numbers and spending further consolidates tourism as a driving force in the Spanish economy.

The IV Turespaña Convention, which will focus on digitalisation in the tourism sector, aims to explore new ways to enhance the visitor experience while promoting sustainable destination management. 

The government has invested more than €300 million in digital transformation programmes to support this effort, ensuring that Spain remains a top destination for global travellers.