British holidaymakers remain the most important market for Andalucia’s tourism industry and outspend all other nationalities across Spain, new figures have revealed.

Data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) shows Andalucia welcomed a record 5.8million international tourists during the first five months of 2026, with foreign visitors spending €7.8billion.

The number of overseas visitors (5,802,572) represents a year-on-year increase of 8%, while spending figures surged 7.7%.

The figures were also the strongest ever recorded for the month of May.

Record May for Andalucia

In May alone, Andalucia welcomed 1,634,592 international visitors, representing a 12.7% increase compared with May 2025.

Those visitors spent €2.06 billion, up 8.4% on the previous year.

On average, tourists spent €200 per day, a 6.2% increase, while staying for 6.27 days.

Average spending per visitor stood at €1,257, slightly lower than a year earlier despite the increase in overall visitor numbers.

Brits remain biggest tourism market

Across Spain, the UK remained the country’s largest source of international visitors.

More than 7 million British tourists travelled to Spain during the first five months of 2026, an increase of 3.6% compared with the same period last year.

France ranked second with 4.6 million visitors, followed by Germany with 4.5 million.

British visitors also spent more than any other nationality, accounting for 16% of all international tourism spending in Spain between January and May, followed by Germany with 11.9% and Francia 7.7%.

Tourism records

Nationally, Spain welcomed a record 36.8 million international tourists during the first five months of the year, up 5% on 2025.

Foreign visitors spent €50.3 billion during that period, an increase of 7.8%, with the Ministry of Industry and Tourism saying the figures show tourism revenue continues to grow faster than visitor numbers.

In May alone, Spain received 10.3 million international tourists, who spent a record €13.6 billion.

Each visitor spent an average of €1,321, while average daily spending reached €214.

Among Spain’s regions, Catalonia attracted the largest share of international tourists in May with 21.1% of arrivals, followed by the Balearic Islands (20.6%) and Andalucía (15.9%).