Spain has ranked third in the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index, behind Japan and the United States. The ranking, released on September 25, places Spain first among European economies, ahead of France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The index assesses the conditions that support sustainable and resilient tourism across 110 economies. Its 17 pillars cover areas including safety, health, transport infrastructure, visitor services, cultural and natural resources, and sustainability. The Forum’s methodology measures these foundations rather than ranking countries directly by arrivals, spending or tourism revenue.
That distinction separates Spain’s development ranking from its position as the world’s second-most-visited country, behind France. Spain’s National Statistics Institute recorded 96.8 million international tourists in 2025, a record total and a 3.2% increase from the previous year. The United Kingdom, France and Germany were its largest source markets.
Growth continued into 2026. Official figures show Spain received 58.1 million international tourists from January through July, up 4.6% year over year. Catalonia attracted 11.9 million visitors, followed by the Balearic Islands with about 9.2 million and the Canary Islands with 9 million. These provisional figures describe visitor demand, a separate measure from the development index.
For travelers, a high development ranking signals strong tourism foundations but does not guarantee low prices or uncrowded destinations. The Forum found that its top 20 economies generally lagged on price competitiveness and faced pressure from concentrated demand. Our Mallorca coverage also shows how demand is expanding beyond the peak summer season, making travel dates and individual destinations important parts of trip planning.
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