In 2020, tourism in Spain collapsed due to Covid-19, with arrivals down 77% from 2019. France overtook the UK as the top source market, but both saw over a 70% decline in tourists. Hotel stays dropped 73% while spending on international tourism fell 79% to €19 billion, significantly impacting the Spanish economy. Tourism losses are estimated at €106 billion for 2020, a decline of 69% compared to the previous year.

1. 2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
UK
22%
Germany
14%
France
14%
Rest of Europe
36%
US 4%
Rest of the world
10%
Annual tourism source markets to Spain
% of the total in the past 5 years
Evolution of tourist arrivals
Millions of tourists and %
TOURISM SECTOR IN SPAIN 2020
Tourism expenditure and economic
weight of the sector
% of GDP and millions of €
In 2020, the leading source market for tourism to Spain was France with 3.9 million
tourists, compared to 3.2 million from UK, the country which has traditionally
accounted for the highest percentage of tourists.
The decrease in overnight stays was mainly concentrated in hotels and holiday
dwellings.
The expenditure of international tourism fell 78.6% to €19 billion, with a significant
impact on the economy.
Tourism GDP forecasts, Exceltur
Change (millions €) compared to 2019
50
150
250
350
2018 2019 2020
Millones
Hotels
-73%
0
25
50
2018 2019 2020
Campsites
-47%
0
20
40
60
80
2018 2019 2020
Holiday dwellings
-67%
0
5
10
15
2018 2019 2020
Rural tourism
accommodation
-46%
Number of overnight stays by type of accommodation
Millions
Source: Circulo de Empresarios baded on Bank of Spain, INE and Exceltur, 2021
In 2020, tourism in Spain collapsed as a result of Covid-19. Nineteen million foreign
tourists arrived in Spain, 77% less than in 2019 when the sector had been registering
several years of record-breaking levels.
Main countries
Millions of tourists
18.0
11.1 11.1
3.2 2.4 3.9
UK Germany France
2020
2019
Biggest decreases in tourism
by Autonomous Community
Yearly (%) change
Exceltur, in its October scenario revision, forecast losses of €106 billion (-68.9%
compared to 2019) for tourism activity in Spain for 2020.
-106,436
-58,118
-120000
-80000
-40000
0
2020 2021
(-68.9%)
(-37.6%)
-67.8
-71.2
-73.2
-77.5
-77.7
-80
-87.4
-100 -50 0
Others
I.Canarias
C.Valenciana
Andalucía
C.Madrid
Cataluña
I.Baleares
2016: 75M. 2017: 82M. 2018: 83M. 2019: 84M. 2020: 19M.
8.7 1.1
1.1
-77.4
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Dec-15 Dec-16 Dec-17 Dec-18 Dec-19 Dec-20
Arrival of tourists, accumulated in the year YoY change (right axis)
11.1
11.3
12.1 12.1
12.4
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
10
11
12
Dec-15 Dec-16 Dec-17 Dec-18 Dec-19 Dec-20
Tourism sector weight
Expenditure of international tourists (right axis)