Spain will welcome 115 million foreign tourists annually around 2040 and will be the top destination for inbound travellers, surpassing France. However, while total international tourist arrivals to the country will see a significant increase, popular tourist destinations, including Mallorca, will see a decline in the number of travellers, according to forecasts by consultancy Braintrust.
The consultancy’s tourism barometer pointed out that this year Spain will exceed 91 million foreign travellers, spending around €125 million, which means new record figures – and added that these increases will continue in the coming decades.
According to the report, the international environment, the evolution of the economy and the actions taken by the various destinations can affect the continued surpassing of historical records, not only in terms of the number of tourists, but also in terms of spending.
In addition to the forecast given for 2040, it is estimated that in 2025 a total of 93 million foreign travellers will visit Spain in 2025, in 2030 this number will increase to 100 million and in 2035 to 107 million.
Over time, there will be a diversification of Spanish destinations, as the six communities that receive 90% of travellers (Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Catalonia, the Community of Valencia and Madrid) will see their share decrease in favour of others with a lower current weight.
In the forecasts for the coming years, regions such as Galicia, Asturias, the Basque Country, Navarre, Castilla y León, Castilla-La Mancha and Extremadura will gain visitors attracted by their tourism proposals, according to Braintrust.
Based on all of the above, the consultancy notes that the average daily visitor spend will double in 2030 compared to 2017, with around 280 euros per day, which could further increase to 340 euros per day between 2035 and 2040, double compared to 2022.
Meanwhile, the contribution of tourism to national GDP is expected to exceed 15% in the coming decades, a figure already reached in some regions such as the Balearic and Canary Islands.
