Andalusia takes in 17.300 billion from foreign tourists up to September

Spending by international tourists in Andalusia reached 17.300 billion euros between January and September 2026, 10.3% more than in the same period the previous year. In those nine months the region received 12.6 million foreign visitors, 9.8% more, according to data from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) presented by the Regional Minister of Tourism, Justice, Deregulation and Local Administration, Manuel Gavira, during the World Travel Market (WTM) in London. The British market is the one that spends the most in the destination: 3.196 billion euros up to September, 6.1% more than in the first nine months of 2025, and close to 19% of total spending by foreign visitors. The United Kingdom remains for another year the leading international source market, with shares above 21% both in 2025 and so far in 2026, more than double that of France, the Nordic countries or Germany, the next markets.

Andalusia received 3.1 million British tourists in 2025, 10.76% more than the previous year, and surpassed the pre-pandemic level for the first time. The destination records the largest growth among the main tourist regions and nearly triples the rise of the national total, which was 3.8%. So far in 2026, 2.7 million British visitors have arrived up to September, 8.4% more and the highest figure on record for that period. The British who visited Andalusia in 2025 stayed an average of 7.2 days and spent 165.9 euros per day, six euros more than the previous year. Andalusian hotels accommodated more than 1.6 million British travellers that year, 5.5% more, with 7.2 million overnight stays, 5.1% more. Up to September 2026, hotel stays from this market stand at around 6.1 million, 5.3% more. Air connectivity with the United Kingdom is also growing. In 2025 Andalusian airports received 3.6 million passengers from that country, 8.6% more, and up to September 2026 they total 3.1 million, 6.7% more. The increases occur at all airports: 4.0% in Málaga, 67.8% in Granada-Jaén, 22.0% in Almería, 18.1% in Sevilla and 96.0% in Jerez. For the last quarter, an increase in air capacity from the United Kingdom of 7.6% is expected, up to nearly 936,000 seats. In 2025 British tourism reached 347 Andalusian municipalities, 60% of the region's surface area, 1.8 points more than the previous year, and 39 towns not visited in 2024 were added. Málaga concentrated 34% of this demand, followed by Granada (28.6%), Sevilla (13.8%) and Cádiz (8.1%). Around 70 Andalusian companies and entities are taking part in the WTM in London in the exhibitor's working area. The delegation has scheduled meetings with operators, airlines and agencies to strengthen connectivity and diversify demand towards segments such as congresses, golf, family tourism, culture, inland and nature. Gavira has announced that meetings will be held with airlines and transport companies to guarantee connectivity during the rail disruption resulting from the Urda accident.