Experience

Spain nearing France as world’s most visited country

Posted by Timothy on

Spain is heading for a record year in international tourism, with more than 100 million foreign visitors expected in 2026. France remains the world’s most visited country, but the gap is narrowing, raising the prospect that Spain could overtake its neighbour as early as 2027. However, the growth of mass tourism is also fuelling concerns about housing, public services and the environment.

Spain welcomed 97 million international tourists in 2025, up from 94 million in 2024, according to figures announced by Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu i Boher. The government expects arrivals to exceed 100 million for the first time in 2026.

The latest figures support that forecast. Between January and August, Spain received 70.4 million international tourists, an increase of 5.4% compared with the same period in 2025, according to the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE). August alone accounted for 12.3 million visitors, up 9.2% year on year.

“We will probably reach 100 million if this trend continues. It would be the natural outcome,” Hereu said earlier this year.

Tourism is a major pillar of the Spanish economy, supporting more than three million jobs. International visitors spent €135 billion in the country in 2025, an increase of 6.8% compared with the previous year. Spending is forecast to rise by a further 5.3% in 2026.

France’s lead is shrinking

France welcomed 102 million international tourists in 2025, retaining its position as the world’s most visited country. However, Spain’s continued growth is bringing the two destinations closer together.

French tourism publication TourMaG reports that Spain could overtake France as early as 2027 if current trends persist. Google had previously forecast that Spain would surpass France by 2050, projecting 130 million visitors to Spain against 125 million to France. The latest figures suggest that the milestone could arrive much sooner.

France’s tourism market continues to grow, albeit more slowly. According to the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), overnight stays increased by 1.1% during summer 2026, while the number of international visitors showed no comparable increase, TourMaG reported.

Comparisons between the countries should nevertheless be treated with caution. Counting international tourists across Europe is difficult because many travellers can cross borders without systematic checks. Rankings therefore depend partly on how arrivals are estimated and counted.

Spain promotes its tourism strategy

Speaking at the World Travel and Tourism Council‘s (WTTC) annual summit in Valletta, Malta, on 8 October 2026, Hereu attributed Spain’s success to a long-term strategy based on diversifying its tourism offer.

He identified three pillars underpinning the country’s performance: an open society that attracts visitors, talent and investment; territorial cohesion, ensuring that tourism benefits regions while preserving their identities; and a strong welfare state.

Hereu argued that tourism should generate opportunities for businesses and visitors while improving residents’ well-being. The government wants to maintain Spain’s international competitiveness while ensuring that economic growth goes hand in hand with social cohesion and environmental sustainability.

The summit, which brought together political representatives and business leaders from across the travel industry, also addressed technology and the future of tourism. 

WTTC chief executive Gloria Guevara highlighted the sector’s contribution to global employment, noting that one in three new jobs created worldwide over the previous five years had come from travel and tourism. She also pointed to the growing influence of artificial intelligence on travel and the management of destinations.

Belgian visitors contribute to growth

Belgium remains an important source market for Spain. According to tourism agency Turespaña, 2.23 million Belgian tourists visited the country between January and August 2026, up 5.7% year on year. Almost 372,000 travelled to Spain in August alone, an increase of 9.2%.

In 2025, Spain recorded approximately 3.06 million Belgian visitors, who spent a combined €4.2 billion during their stays. That represented an average of €1,376 per person for a trip lasting 8.7 nights.

The Valencian Community was the most popular region, accounting for 23% of Belgian visits, followed by Andalusia at 19% and Catalonia at 16%. Spain’s beaches, cities, cultural attractions and gastronomy continue to make it a popular choice for Belgian holidaymakers.

Overtourism casts a shadow over record numbers

The rapid growth in visitor numbers has also fuelled opposition to mass tourism. Protests have taken place in popular destinations including Barcelona, Málaga, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands, where residents have raised concerns about housing affordability, pressure on public services and environmental damage.

The availability of housing is a particular source of tension. Landlords can often earn more from short-term holiday rentals than from long-term tenancies, reducing the supply of homes for residents and adding to pressure on rents. Some residents also complain that local shops and services increasingly cater to tourists rather than the communities that live there year-round.

Environmental pressures are equally significant. Spain is vulnerable to drought and water shortages, while tourism increases demand for water and other resources in already stressed destinations.

The government has pledged to pursue economic, social and environmental sustainability, but local authorities are also taking action. Barcelona, for example, plans not to renew the licences of approximately 10,000 tourist apartments when they expire in November 2028, with the aim of returning the properties to the residential housing market.

For Spain, the challenge is to spread tourism more evenly across the country and improve the management of heavily visited destinations, rather than relying solely on rising arrivals.

Another record year in prospect

Spain’s tourism industry remains optimistic about 2026, despite competition from destinations such as Greece, Turkey, and Albania. The expected crossing of the 100 million mark would reinforce the country’s position among the world’s leading tourist destinations and bring it closer to France.

Whether Spain overtakes France in 2027 will depend on how visitor numbers develop and how international arrivals are counted. But the narrowing gap highlights how quickly the global tourism landscape can change.

The next test will be whether Spain can sustain its economic gains while addressing the housing, social and environmental pressures associated with mass tourism. Record visitor numbers may bring the country closer to the top of the global rankings, but managing their impact will be just as important as attracting them.

Some tourism statistics

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