The Spanish Tourism Industry

Tourism has been an important feature of the Spanish economy for decades and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was contributing 12.4% of its GDP and 13.5% of total employment.

Those offering products, services and experiences to millions of visitors to Spain include providers of accommodation, food and drink, transportation and transfers, activities, attractions, guiding services and more. Up to 99% of tourism businesses in Spain are

estimated to be micro or small.

The UK Market

Spain is consistently the most popular overseas destination for UK tourists (31% of ABTA survey respondents had visited between September 2021 and August 2022 and the top three destinations in Skyscanner’s top ten destinations for British travellers in 2023 were all in Spain. In turn, the UK is Spain’s biggest tourism market (18 million a year, comprising 19% of all overnight visitors. Spending by UK tourists is estimated to support 1.2% of Spain’s GDP (spending of €17.509 million).

An Appetite for Sustainability

Travellers globally, and notably those from the UK, are increasingly aware of the impacts of their trips, and keen for the companies they choose for their holidays to demonstrate strong sustainability credentials. For example:

• 76% of respondents to a 2023 survey by Booking said they want to travel more sustainably over the coming 12 months.
• 59% of UK travel industry association ABTA survey respondents said the sustainability credentials of their holiday provider are important to them when planning a trip
• 62% of TripAdvisor survey respondents would prefer to travel to somewhere where they can support local businesses for their next trip

1. Introduction
2. The Evolving Sustainability Landscape
3. Mandatory Reporting
4. What do Suppliers need to do?
5. A Roadmap for Spanish Suppliers
6. FAQ