Overview
- Exceltur estimates about €4.24 billion in extra tourism receipts from travelers redirecting to Spain and a €4.045 billion hit from higher prices, leaving a net gain of €194 million and a sector total of €227.157 billion.
- The revision nudges expected real growth for 2026 to 2.5%, up from 2.4% forecast in January and slightly above the Bank of Spain’s 2.3% estimate for the broader economy.
- Hotel groups report stronger spring demand, with seaside bookings up as much as 5.2%, while transport firms expect a 1.6% sales drop and long‑haul travel agencies see slower business.
- Tourism entered 2026 with steady momentum, as first‑quarter activity grew 2.1% in real terms, sales rose 4%, and sector jobs reached more than 2.2 million affiliates.
- Exceltur warns that higher energy costs can squeeze household budgets and cut trips, and it says any wider or longer conflict would likely erase the limited upside.