🏆 Arrivals to Spain by Nationality
| Rank | Nationality (2024 arrivals) | Share | Main Motives |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Kingdom | ≈ 24 % | Sun-seekers, cheap flights, 2–4 h hop |
| 2 | Germany | ≈ 16 % | Winter sun in the Canaries, Mallorca party scene |
| 3 | France | ≈ 15 % | Weekend breaks to Barcelona & Basque coast |
| 4 | Nordic countries | ≈ 7 % | Guaranteed 300+ sunny days vs. dark winters at home |
| 5 | Italy | ≈ 7 % | Surf camps, food tours, cheaper than home |
| 6 | Netherlands | ≈ 5 % | Ease of travel, English-friendly, direct Ryanair/EasyJet routes |
| 7 | United States & Canada | Rapidly rising | Luxury villas, gastronomy trails, strong dollar |
🏆 Why Spain Is Pulling Ahead
- Climate Edge
• 300+ sunny days vs. France’s Atlantic drizzle or Italy’s humid summers
• Canary & Balearic Islands offer year-round beach season; France’s Riviera hibernates in winter - Price Sweet Spot
• Average hotel night: Barcelona €118 vs. Paris €186, Rome €152 (STR 2024)
• €3 beach beer in Valencia vs. €6 in Nice or Amalfi - Beach Infrastructure
• 614 Blue Flag beaches—most worldwide; Italy 459, France 408
• Public, well-serviced sands; Italy still leans on pricey private lidos - Nightlife & Festivals
• Primavera Sound (Barcelona) & Ibiza super-clubs attract 20-somethings who’d skip the Uffizi
• France focuses on wine-tasting; Italy’s club scene is fragmented and closes early - Digital-Nomad & LGBTQ+ Friendly
• Fast Wi-Fi, co-living spaces in Valencia & Madrid; Italy’s permits remain clunky
• Spain #1 on 2024 LGBTQ+ Travel Index; France #5, Italy #21 - Flight Supply Explosion
• 120 new routes launched to Spain in 2024 vs. 68 to France, 54 to Italy (Eurocontrol)
• Low-cost carriers utilize secondary airports (Girona, Alicante), a luxury France/Italy lack - Perceived Safety & Cleanliness
• Post-pandemic: 83% of Britons rate Spain “very safe”; France 71%, Italy 69%
• Cleaner streets, better metros, English widely spoken outside resorts
