Tourism grows without brakes in Catalonia: these are the thresholds it has surpassed

BarcelonaCatalonia continues to break all tourism records. For the first time, it has surpassed the 16 million international visitor barrier in the first nine months of the year—a particularly significant period because it includes the summer, traditionally the strongest season—and the 20 billion euro mark in total spending.

According to figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) this Wednesday, nearly 4% more foreign tourists have arrived than between January and September 2025: back then, 15.8 million people came to Catalonia, more than the 15.6 million from before the pandemic.

Regarding the economic impact, so far in 2026, visitors have left more than 21.6 billion euros in our country, 10.68% more than last year. However, it is necessary to take into account inflation and the widespread increase in tourism prices around the world, which have grown above the CPI (Consumer Price Index, the indicator used to measure the rising cost of living).

Each person spent an average of 1,316 euros, 6.4% more than last year. Nevertheless, daily spending has risen 2.21% more than it did then, up to 231 euros per day. The total cost of the trips has risen more than the daily cost because visitors have extended their trips by 4%. In other words, they have gone from spending 5.5 to 5.7 nights in our country.

The records for the year-to-date are driven by an exceptional September, in which, for the first time, more than 2.1 million people have arrived. This is 4.5% more visitors than the previous year. However, the average expenditure per person has risen less, by 3.21%, because the average stay of tourists has decreased slightly, to 5.1 nights, below what we have had so far this year.

Records also in Spain

At the national level, 2026 is also breaking all records. On one hand, between January and September, 80.5 million foreign tourists have arrived, 5.2% more than in the same period last year. On the other, for the first time they have spent more than 100 billion euros in the country: 114.38 billion, 8% more.

Since the beginning of the year, tourists who have visited the country have spent an average of 1,421 euros per person, above the 1,316 euros spent by those who had Catalonia as their main destination. Madrid is where the budget was highest (1,947 euros), followed by the Canary Islands (1,556 euros), the Balearic Islands (1,419 euros), the Valencian Community (1,413 euros), and Andalusia (1,327 euros). Catalonia is also the destination where stays are the shortest.