Spain is on track to become the world's most-visited country by 2040, overtaking France, according to new research by Deloitte and Google. Projections indicate Spain will attract 110 million international visitors, while France is expected to see 105 million, pushing it to second place. This marks a significant increase for Spain, which welcomed a record 97 million visitors in the previous year.
France previously set tourism records in 2025, drawing 102 million international visitors. The study predicts that European countries will collectively host the largest share of tourists between 2019 and 2040, with the total number of global trips expected to reach 2.4 billion by 2040.
Spain's anticipated rise in tourism is not surprising, given its long-standing popularity, particularly among British travelers. In 2025, 19.1 million UK residents visited Spain, spending an estimated €24 billion. Popular destinations include Benidorm and Barcelona.
Despite its growing appeal, Spain has been grappling with the issue of overtourism. Protests have occurred in regions like Majorca, where residents voiced concerns over rising housing costs attributed to holiday rentals and second homes owned by foreign nationals. Demonstrators have expressed opposition to the impact of tourism on local affordability and community life.
Anti-tourism groups in Mallorca, such as Menys Turisme, Més Vida ('Less Tourism, More Life') and Arran Mallorca, have published guides offering strategies for direct action against perceived negative impacts of tourism. These actions have targeted tourism signage, real estate agencies, and hotels, with recommendations for protesters on planning and execution.
Following Spain and France, the United States is forecast to be the third most-visited country by 2040, with China and Mexico rounding out the top five.
