Overview

• INE data show 11.3 million international visitors in August, up 2.9% year on year, bringing July–August to a record 22.3 million as growth moderates versus last summer.
• Tourist outlays in August rose 6.7% to €16.39 billion, with average spend per trip at €1,457 and daily spend at €198.
• Catalonia was the only major destination to lose foreign visitors in peak season, with August arrivals down 4.3% to about 2.2 million and softer spending growth than the national pace.
• Other regions gained: the Balearic Islands led August with 2.5 million visitors (+3.5%), Andalusia rose 7.6%, and the Valencian Community set a monthly record with 1.54 million arrivals and €2.251 billion in August spending.
• Regional contrasts extended further as the Canary Islands reached 10.3 million visitors in January–August (+4.5%) and 1.23 million in August (+6%), while rural tourism in Castilla y León slumped in August after wildfires, with travellers down 10.7% and overnight stays down 9.4%.