The increase in tourist spending by credit cards in Spain, both by nationals and foreign visitors, slowed during the second quarter of 2025, standing at +5.7% compared to the same period last year, although this represented a 4.5 percentage point decrease, with foreign tourism being the main factor on the back of rising prices. This is according to the BBVA Research report on tourist flows, which indicates that Madrid, the Canary Islands, Murcia, the Valencian Community and Cantabria showed the greatest increase in consumption, while the Balearics was the only region to show a decline.
Madrid and the Canary Islands, together with Catalonia, accounted for much of the slowdown in overall growth. Between May and August, BBVA Research highlights that foreign tourism supported the increase, especially in Madrid, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean coast. On the other hand, the national contribution was significant in the north and inland: Cantabria, Navarre, the Basque Country and Castile-La Mancha.
By province, some traditional beach destinations such as Las Palmas, Alicante, Murcia and Cantabria, as well as Madrid, Ciudad Real and Bizkaia, showed the greatest dynamism, unlike some urban areas (Melilla, Gipuzkoa, Zaragoza, Ceuta and Barcelona), along with the Balearics, Ourense and Huesca. International spending in Spain grew by 8.1% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2024, but was 8.7 percentage points lower, continuing the slowdown that began in the middle of last year.
With the exception of a rebound in June (+12.7%), foreign consumption moderated its growth again at the end of the four-month period, reaching its lowest point in August (+4.8%), according to the report. With regard to domestic demand, spending by Spaniards outside their usual province of residence also moderated, but less markedly than in the foreign market.
Resident consumption increased by 2.9% between May and August, which was five percentage points less than the previous year, driven by the positive contribution of the number of travellers in all regions, with the exception of the Balearics, where it lost momentum. However, it was affected by the fires in mid-August and the disruption to rail services. In particular, Ourense, León and Zamora were hardest hit, while the effects were barely noticeable in Cáceres.
Looking ahead to autumn, the report forecasts a possible improvement in the tourism sector, although prices continue to rise. This estimate is based on the fact that non-face-to-face spending on travel and accommodation, which approximates tourist bookings, has shown ‘positive’ behaviour in recent months, which ‘could translate into higher growth in tourist spending going forward’. In addition, prices for transport services have risen again after the sharp decline two years ago. Other tourism-related sectors are showing some moderation in price increases. However, rates are still rising at high rates, particularly for accommodation.