France maintains its top position in tourist visits, yet Spain leads in tourism expenditure.
In the realm of international tourism, Spain has surpassed France in terms of spending, despite France hosting more visitors[4]. This trend is primarily attributed to the fact that tourists in Spain tend to spend more per visitor and per day[1].
In 2023, Spain raked in approximately €126 billion in tourism receipts, compared to France's €68.6 billion[2]. This significant difference can be attributed to several key factors.
Firstly, tourists in Spain have a higher average spending per tourist. For instance, in May 2025, tourists in Spain spent an average of €1,304 each, with daily spending also on the rise[3].
Secondly, the growth in tourism revenue in Spain has outpaced the increase in visitor numbers. Spain’s tourism revenue grew by 8.1% year-on-year in early 2025, while visitor numbers grew by 5.5%[1][3].
Thirdly, Spain's tourist markets are more concentrated on high-spending countries, such as the UK, France, and Germany[1]. British tourists alone account for 16.9% of Spain’s tourism expenditure.
On the other hand, France has a higher total number of visitors and a high domestic tourism spend, but its international visitor spending is lower compared to Spain’s overall receipts[2]. This suggests that French tourists may spend less per capita internationally.
Spain's success is also evident in the growth of tourism revenue outside its top six regions, indicating a successful strategy in spreading tourist spending more widely[3].
Looking ahead, Spain is predicted to generate a total of €200 billion from tourism spending in 2024[1]. However, the country faces challenges such as housing shortages and anti-tourism protests[5]. Locals have been expressing concerns about being priced out of the market by tourists, and there have been organized protests in some areas[5].
France, meanwhile, has maintained its position as the world's most popular tourist destination since 2016, outside the pandemic period[6]. Despite this, the difference in spending between tourists in France and Spain might be due to a higher number of domestic tourists in Spain[1]. Additionally, eating out in bars and restaurants in Spain is generally cheaper than in France[7].
References:
- World Tourism Organisation
- France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
- Spain's National Statistics Institute
- European Travel Commission
- El País
- France's Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Recovery
- Numbeo
- The higher average spending per tourist in Spain, as evident in May 2025 when tourists spent €1,304 each, contributes to the country's thriving lifestyle and finance sectors, impacting the overall housing market.
- Contrasting Spain's recent financial success in tourism, France, while remaining the world's most popular tourist destination, has visitors who tend to spend less per capita internationally, possibly due to a higher concentration of domestic tourists or lower travel costs.
