According to data published by Turespaña on Friday, Spain received 79.3 million international passengers in the first eight months of the year, representing a 5.2% increase compared with the same period in 2025. This amounts to approximately 3.9 million additional arrivals.
THE UNITED KINGDOM AND ITALY DRIVE ARRIVALS
Regarding international passenger flows from the main markets, arrivals from the United Kingdom and Italy increased, while those from Germany and France declined. Poland and Belgium recorded notable year-on-year increases. The United States saw arrivals slow compared with previous months.
In terms of market diversification, under the ‘Rest of countries’ category, China, Japan and Canada stood out for their increases in international passenger arrivals. The main Ibero-American countries also recorded increases, with Brazil standing out.
BALEARIC ISLANDS
Among the traditional markets, approximately 2.9 million international passengers arrived from the United Kingdom, representing 23.7% of total arrivals and a 7.5% year-on-year increase. The Balearic Islands were their main destination, accounting for around 26% of the total and recording growth of 3.1%. The Canary Islands followed with a 20% share. All regions except Galicia and the Principality of Asturias significantly increased their arrivals in August.
Some 1.5 million passengers flew from Germany in August, representing 12.5% of the total, with a 1.4% year-on-year decline that affected the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands to a large extent, with 10,000 fewer passengers; by contrast, the Valencia region and the Basque Country recorded a notable increase in arrivals.
Italy accounted for 1.3 million international passengers, or 10.6% of the flow received in August, recording year-on-year growth of 7.7%. This increase benefited all regions except the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Cantabria and the Principality of Asturias, which experienced moderate declines. The Valencia region stood out with more than 30,000 additional passengers, while Andalusia and the Basque Country also recorded notable double-digit increases.
FRANCE AND THE NETHERLANDS DECLINE
France accounted for 820,748 passengers, or 6.7% of the total, representing a 1% year-on-year decline. This decrease mainly affected Catalonia and the Valencia region, where arrivals fell by double digits. The Balearic Islands, with a 25.2% share of arrivals, were the main destination for this market.
The 502,964 passengers arriving from the Netherlands represented 4.1% of the total in August and experienced a 0.7% decline, largely due to a decrease in the Balearic Islands. The main destinations were the Valencia region and Catalonia, which together accounted for 41.2% of arrivals.
In August, the six leading autonomous communities accounted for 96.8% of total arrivals. All of them also recorded increases. The Valencia region saw a notable double-digit rise of 12.5%, while the Canary Islands recorded the most moderate growth, at 0.9%. Under the ‘Rest of autonomous communities’ category, the Basque Country once again stood out both for its volume of arrivals and its double-digit expansion.
MADRID-BARAJAS LEADS AMONG AIRPORTS
As for airports, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas topped the list in August, receiving 2.4 million passengers, up 4.6% year on year. Barcelona Airport ranked second, with 2.2 million passengers, an increase of 5.9%. Valencia Airport recorded the strongest year-on-year growth, rising 13.4%.
