Between January and July, international arrivals increased by 4.6% compared with the same period in 2025, according to the latest Frontur figures published by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE).

Tourism revenues grew even faster. International visitors spent €82.05 billion in Spain during the seven-month period, an increase of 7.8% year-on-year and another record for the country.

The figures reinforce Spain’s position as one of the fastest-growing major tourism destinations in Europe. In 2025, the country welcomed a record 96.8 million international tourists, meaning even relatively modest growth this year would be enough to take Spain beyond 100 million annual arrivals for the first time.

Furthermore, a recent study by Deloitte and Google predicts Spain could eventually overtake France as the world’s most visited country, reaching around 110 million international tourists annually by 2040.

Visitor spending grows faster than arrivals

The record-breaking trend continued during the peak summer season. Spain received 11.5 million international tourists in July alone, 4.6% more than during the same month last year.

Their spending increased considerably faster, rising by 10.9% to €18.22 billion.

The figures continue a trend increasingly emphasised by Spanish tourism authorities: tourism revenues are growing faster than visitor numbers.

Accommodation accounted for the largest share of international visitor expenditure in July, representing 19.8% of the total. Package holidays accounted for 19.3%, followed closely by international transport at 19.2%.

The most common length of stay was between four and seven nights, accounting for 5.7 million visitors, an increase of 8.7% year-on-year.

Independent travel also continued to dominate. Almost 8.5 million international tourists visited Spain without a package holiday in July, compared with around 3.1 million who travelled as part of one.

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UK remains Spain’s largest tourism market

The United Kingdom remained by far Spain’s largest source market between January and July, accounting for 11.5 million visitors, 4.6% more than during the same period last year.

France ranked second with more than 7.2 million tourists, an increase of 1.2%, while approximately 6.9 million visitors arrived from Germany, down 0.5%.

Italy recorded the strongest percentage growth among Spain’s major source markets. Around 3.5 million Italian tourists travelled to the country during the first seven months of the year, 10.3% more than in 2025.

Growth was even stronger among visitors grouped by INE under other source countries, with arrivals increasing by 16.9% to 717,000 and spending rising by 24.5%.

British travellers also dominated the July figures. Around 2.2 million visitors arrived from the UK during the month, an increase of 5.6% year-on-year, while their expenditure reached €3.04 billion, up 4.8%.

Madrid and Valencia record strong growth

Catalonia remained Spain’s most visited autonomous community during the first seven months of 2026, receiving 11.94 million international tourists, 2.9% more than during the same period last year.

The Balearic Islands followed with 9.16 million visitors, an increase of 1.8%. The Canary Islands received 9.02 million tourists, 0.6% fewer than a year earlier.

Andalusia also attracted around 9.02 million international visitors, but recorded much stronger growth, with arrivals increasing by 8.2%.

Among Spain’s major destinations, Madrid and the Valencian Community posted the strongest increases during the January-to-July period, at 9.6% and 8.9% respectively.

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The trend accelerated in July. The Valencian Community received 1.63 million international tourists during the month, 9.5% more than a year earlier, while Madrid welcomed around 800,000, an increase of 11%.

Spain moves closer to 100 million tourists

The latest figures add weight to expectations that Spain could cross the 100-million-tourist mark in 2026. After welcoming 96.8 million international visitors in 2025, Spain would need growth of only around 3.3% this year to reach 100 million. Arrivals during the first seven months are currently running above that pace, at 4.6%.

Maintaining the current growth rate throughout the year would put Spain at roughly 101 million international visitors in 2026.

Such a result would also further narrow the gap with France, which welcomed 102 million international visitors in 2025 and remains the world’s most visited country.

The comparison is particularly striking when tourism expenditure is taken into account. Spain generated €134.7 billion in international tourism spending in 2025, considerably more than France’s €77.5 billion, despite receiving fewer international visitors.

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Spain’s challenge is therefore increasingly shifting from attracting more tourists towards managing the economic, social and environmental consequences of its extraordinary popularity.

Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu has advocated a model of “calm growth”, with greater emphasis on increasing tourism’s economic value, spreading visitors across different regions and seasons, and promoting inland, cultural, gastronomic and nature tourism.

With 58.1 million international visitors already recorded by the end of July, Spain’s latest tourism record suggests that managing that growth could become an even more pressing issue if the country passes 100 million arrivals this year.

L’article Spain sets new tourism record with 58.1 million international visitors by July est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Fly2Galicia will begin services from Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport on 1 December 2026, connecting the Galician capital with Alicante, Granada and Zaragoza in Spain, as well as Brussels, Prague, Munich, Venice and Milan.

The new carrier is positioning itself as a low-cost option for travellers to Galicia, with introductory fares starting at around €40 on some international routes. Tickets went on sale in August, with fares varying depending on the destination and travel date.

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Even the lowest fares are expected to include two pieces of hand luggage, comprising an eight-kilogram cabin bag and one personal item.

Despite being marketed under the Fly2Galicia brand, the initial flights will not be operated directly by the new airline. Instead, services will be carried out by another European operator, whose identity has yet to be announced.

The initial schedule is planned to run until 24 October 2027, with reports suggesting an Airbus A320 will be deployed. The airline is also reportedly considering adding a second aircraft for the summer 2027 season.

Santiago prepares for 2027 Holy Year

The timing of the launch coincides with preparations for the 2027 Jacobean Holy Year, or Año Santo Xacobeo, when the Feast of Saint James on 25 July falls on a Sunday.

Holy Years traditionally bring significantly larger numbers of pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela and the Camino de Santiago, as Catholics are able to obtain a plenary indulgence after completing certain religious rites in the city.

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The Camino has already been experiencing record demand in recent years, with travellers increasingly undertaking the pilgrimage for cultural, sporting and personal reasons as well as religious ones.

Fly2Galicia’s international network could therefore provide additional connectivity for pilgrims travelling to and from Galicia, particularly from Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic.

The airline currently has no announced routes to the United Kingdom.

More airlines turn their attention to Santiago

Fly2Galicia will not be the only carrier expanding its presence at Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport ahead of 2027.

Wizz Air has also announced new connections to Santiago from Rome and Warsaw starting in December 2026. The airline is expected to establish a permanent base at the Galician airport in February 2027, accompanied by new domestic services to Malaga, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Zaragoza.

The additional capacity could strengthen Santiago’s role as a gateway not only to the Camino but to Galicia as a whole.

Santiago de Compostela’s UNESCO-listed Old Town is one of Spain’s most important historic centres, dominated by the cathedral that marks the traditional finishing point of the Camino. Beyond the city, visitors can explore destinations including A Coruña and Vigo, as well as the beaches, islands and vineyards of the Rías Baixas.

L’article New budget airline to launch eight routes from Santiago de Compostela ahead of 2027 Holy Year  est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The hotel aims to show a different side of Ibiza, away from the nightlife for which the island is best known. Portinatx is surrounded by pine forests, small coves and clear water, giving the retreat a quieter setting. Nômade says its concept refers back to a period when Ibiza was a meeting place for artists and alternative communities. Retreats, artist residencies and ritual events will therefore take place at the property throughout the year.

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“We are not interested in replicating the predictable luxury model that defines much of Ibiza today,” Miguel Isla, CEO of Nomade People, said. He described the island’s deeper history as one based on freedom, creativity and connection. The hotel includes communal spaces for movement sessions and small performances, as well as a professional recording studio for musicians and producers. These facilities are intended to encourage contact between guests rather than simply provide entertainment.

Nômade Temple was created by transforming an existing resort and preserving original features such as its arches and terraces. Ochre-coloured walls, geometric courtyards and North African influences are combined with Mediterranean plants and views of the coastline. Paths wind through gardens and connect the hotel’s restaurants, terraces and gathering spaces. The rooms use warm timber, natural stone, handmade textiles and large terraces to strengthen the connection between the interiors and the surrounding landscape.

The hotel offers wellness facilities without requiring guests to follow a fixed programme. Visitors can choose between yoga, breathwork, hikes, movement classes and treatments or simply spend their time beside the sea. A dedicated Journey Designer can prepare a personalised itinerary combining activities, restaurant reservations and cultural experiences. However, participation remains optional, allowing each guest to decide how active or relaxed their stay should be.

At the centre of the wellness experience is GÖN House of Healing Ibiza. The word gön means “soul” in Turkish, while the spa’s design was inspired by Ibiza’s natural caves. Its facilities include hammam steam rooms, dry saunas, cold plunges and a warm mineral-water flotation tank. Guests can also book massages, facial treatments and other therapies in private treatment rooms.

Several restaurants bring different culinary styles to the property. TAVLA offers sharing dishes centred on charcoal-grilled meat, marinated seafood and seasonal vegetables, while beachside restaurant 4FU3GOS focuses on seafood and open-fire cooking. KUU JŪ combines Mediterranean ingredients, including red prawns, citrus and island herbs, with Japanese omakase dining. Omakase is a Japanese concept in which the chef chooses and serves a sequence of dishes for the guest.

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Music continues into the evening at Dante’s HiFi, a space inspired by Japanese listening bars. These venues focus on high-quality sound and careful listening, often using vinyl records instead of a conventional nightclub DJ set. Guests can listen to selected music while having cocktails in a more intimate environment. Together with the recording studio and artist residencies, the bar makes music an active part of the hotel’s identity.

The hotel says it works with local fishermen, growers and producers to reduce the environmental impact of its restaurants. A dedicated environmental, social and governance team also oversees energy efficiency, waste reduction and the protection of nearby ecosystems. From Portinatx, guests can explore northern Ibiza’s beaches, coves and hiking routes. The whitewashed village of San Juan, known for its bohemian Sunday market, is around ten minutes away by car.

L’article Nômade Temple opens in northern Ibiza with focus on slow travel and wellness est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The eclipse on 12 August will cross northern and eastern Spain along a band stretching from A Coruña in Galicia to Mallorca, making the country one of the best places in Europe to experience totality. Up to six million people could gather along the eclipse path, while around 460,000 international tourists are expected to have travelled to Spain specifically for the astronomical event.

The influx is also expected to put significant pressure on Spain’s roads, with around 1.5 million additional car journeys anticipated. Authorities are urging travellers to avoid unnecessary journeys and not to stop on roads or hard shoulders to observe the eclipse, particularly where vehicles could obstruct access for emergency services.

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Extreme wildfire danger across Spain

The warnings come after weeks of extreme temperatures and destructive wildfires across the country. Around 200,000 hectares have already burned in Spain this year, approximately six times the area recorded at the same point in 2025. Fires have recently been active in several parts of the country, including Huelva, Segovia and Huesca.

Conditions have been exacerbated by an exceptionally hot and dry summer. July was mainland Spain’s joint-hottest July since records began in 1961 and its driest on record, with just 4.3 mm of rain, equivalent to around 26% of normal precipitation for the month.

A large proportion of Spain is under weather alerts for Wednesday, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 40°C in some areas. Spain’s national weather agency AEMET has also warned of very high or extreme forest fire danger across much of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands.

“The vegetation is extraordinarily dry and the smallest spark or carelessness could lead to devastating forest fires,” Environment Minister Sara Aagesen warned during a visit to Niebla, the site of a recent fire.

Aagesen urged people heading into natural areas to exercise the utmost caution, particularly around forests and places with low humidity and large amounts of dry vegetation.

Authorities are particularly concerned about potential ignition sources such as discarded cigarettes, barbecues, fireworks and vehicles parked over dry vegetation. Drivers have been warned that hot components underneath vehicles could potentially start a fire when parked on dry grass.

“We’ve had an extremely tough summer in Spain, with yet another series of major forest fires. That’s why we must restrict any kind of activity that could generate a spark,” Virginia Barcones, Secretary-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies at Spain’s Interior Ministry, told Reuters.

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660 official observation points

Spain is treating the eclipse as a nationwide security operation, with more than 660 official viewing sites identified across the country and around 35,000 officers expected to be involved in managing crowds and protecting vulnerable areas. A national control centre in Madrid will coordinate surveillance and emergency operations.

Heavy traffic is another concern, particularly because congestion in rural areas could prevent firefighters and other emergency services from reaching incidents quickly.

Some regional authorities have gone further by restricting access to vulnerable areas. In Valencia, natural parks have been closed and access to rural footpaths restricted. Camping and activities involving fire have also been suspended in high-risk areas, while barbecues and fireworks are prohibited.

Some planned eclipse gatherings elsewhere in Spain have been cancelled altogether because of the fire risk.

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Eclipse triggers astrotourism boom

Despite the warnings, the eclipse has triggered a major tourism boom across the path of totality. Accommodation in small towns and villages has been booked for months, while demand for campsites, motorhomes and rural accommodation has surged. Around 70% of Spain’s caravan fleet has reportedly already been reserved for the event.

Hotel prices have also risen sharply in some of the main viewing destinations. A Coruña has recorded particularly strong demand, while Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao have also experienced significant increases as travellers compete for accommodation within or close to the path of totality.

The phenomenon is particularly significant for Spain, where mainland observers have not experienced a total solar eclipse for more than a century. Totality will be visible within a band running across the north of the country and towards the Mediterranean, with the eclipse visible from destinations including A Coruña, Bilbao, Zaragoza and the Balearic Islands.

The influx had been anticipated months in advance, with Spain already preparing for a major eclipse tourism surge as accommodation and viewing locations along the path of totality attracted growing demand.

NASA has selected the tiny village of Villalibado in north-western Spain as one of its observation bases, installing four high-powered telescopes next to its Romanesque church to livestream the eclipse to millions of viewers worldwide.

Eye and equipment safety warnings

Wildfires and traffic are not the only safety concerns surrounding the event. Spanish hospitals are also preparing for possible eye injuries caused by people looking directly at the Sun without adequate protection. Six brands of eclipse glasses have been withdrawn after being deemed unsafe by Spanish consumer organisation FACUA.

As well as wildfire concerns, authorities have warned eclipse watchers to protect their eyesight by using certified solar viewing glasses. Smartphones and cameras can also be vulnerable when pointed directly at the Sun, making the use of appropriate protection important for anyone planning to photograph the eclipse.

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The warnings come as Europe prepares for its most significant solar eclipse in decades, with large numbers of travellers heading to Spain and Iceland to experience totality and others across the continent able to see a partial eclipse.

For visitors heading into Spain’s countryside, authorities are stressing another precaution: avoiding anything that could produce a spark. With extremely dry landscapes, temperatures approaching 40°C and hundreds of thousands of additional visitors converging on rural viewing locations, officials are hoping the country’s unprecedented eclipse tourism boom does not add to an already severe wildfire season.

L’article Solar eclipse tourism boom puts Spain on high wildfire alert est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The special flight will operate under the code IB1473, a reference to the year of birth of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. The aircraft will depart from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 6:45 pm and will follow a specially designed route before returning to Madrid. By flying at more than 10,000 metres above sea level, Iberia aims to reduce the impact of clouds and other atmospheric conditions that can make observations from the ground more difficult.

The route has been planned to place the aircraft in a favourable position over Palencia during the eclipse. The Spanish province lies within the path where the total eclipse will be visible, meaning the Moon will completely cover the Sun for a short period of time. From the aircraft, passengers and researchers will have a view above most of the atmosphere, creating better conditions for observing the phenomenon.

The flight will also be available to people who are not on board. Iberia will livestream the eclipse through its social media channels, allowing viewers to follow the event from a unique perspective. The broadcast will be supported by the airline’s new high-speed WiFi service based on Starlink technology, which Iberia is progressively introducing across its fleet.

The airline says the initiative brings together aviation, science and innovation. “This flight will allow us to take advantage of the benefits offered by observing from cruising altitude to contribute to the study of an exceptional astronomical phenomenon,” said Diego Fernández, Iberia’s Director of Strategy, Transformation and Sustainability. The livestream will offer viewers real-time images of the eclipse from above the clouds, something that would not always be possible from the ground.

The aircraft will also function as a flying research platform. A team from the Shelios project will be on board to carry out measurements of the Sun’s morphology and study the solar corona. The project is led by astronomer Miquel Serra-Ricart, Scientific Director of Light Bridges and researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias.

Observing the solar corona is one of the main scientific goals of the mission. The corona is the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere and is normally difficult to study because the brightness of the solar surface hides it. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon blocks the main part of the Sun, making the corona visible. From cruising altitude, researchers can avoid some of the obstacles that affect observations from Earth, such as clouds and atmospheric disturbances.

The scientists will also study the area around the Sun during the eclipse. From the aircraft, they may be able to observe the apparent position of planets such as Venus and Mercury, as well as stars that become visible close to the Sun. The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias has also prepared simulations of how the solar corona could appear during the eclipse using calculations made with a supercomputer in La Palma.

The Iberia flight is part of a growing interest in aviation experiences linked to astronomical events. Airlines are increasingly using aircraft to offer travellers new perspectives on rare natural phenomena. In July 2026, Brussels Airlines also announced a special eclipse flight from Brussels Airport for the same event, in cooperation with scientific organisations including Urania Public Observatory, the University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

While Iberia’s flight will focus on the total eclipse, Brussels Airlines will offer passengers the chance to observe a deep partial eclipse from the air. The Belgian flight is expected to reach up to 96% obscuration, meaning that almost the entire surface of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. Researchers on board will study atmospheric changes during the eclipse, including variations in light, temperature and the colour of the sky.

The 12 August 2026 eclipse is expected to become one of the most important astronomical events visible from Europe in recent decades. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula since 1912. A total solar eclipse happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth align in such a way that the Moon completely blocks the solar disc from certain locations on Earth.

The event is particularly rare because the Sun and Moon appear almost the same size when viewed from Earth. Although the Sun is around 400 times larger than the Moon, it is also around 400 times farther away from Earth. This coincidence allows the Moon to cover the entire solar disc during a total eclipse.

For observers on the ground, conditions will depend heavily on the weather and location. The Sun will be close to the horizon during the eclipse in Spain, meaning clear skies and an unobstructed view towards the west will be important. By moving above the clouds, Iberia’s special flight aims to offer scientists and viewers a different way to experience one of nature’s most spectacular events.

L’article Iberia launches special flight to observe total solar eclipse from the air est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Spain’s National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estadística or INE) just published the tourism data for the forst half of 2026, proving that the city of Madrid has passed a new milestone in terms of tourism. Between January and June 2026, international tourism spending reached €10.007, which represents a 11.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Throughout the first six months of the year, international tourists spent €63.84 billion across Spain, a year-on-year increase of 7%. The Madrid region amounted to 15.7% of the national total, only slightly behind the Canary Islands and Catalonia.

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However, the total budget spent by international tourists is not the only number on the rise. Madrid also welcomed some 5.66 million visitors, up 4.1% when compared with 2025. The biggest part of the international market was taken up by American travellers, amounting to 567,000 arrivals and 1.3 million overnight stays. Italy and the United Kingdom completed the top three. The fastest-growing market, however, was Brazil. Brazilian arrivals increased by 30% compared to 2025, while the amount of Brazilian overnight stays rose by 24%.

Overall, international visitors represented 59% of the arrivals, generating two out of every three hotel nights.

“Exceeding 10 billion euros in international visitor spending demonstrates the considerable appeal that Madrid has built at both national and international level. Tourism is a driver of development for the city, generating economic activity in neighbourhoods and creating stable employment for thousands of Madrid residents. Every euro spent by visitors is reinvested in the city and in the services used by Madrid residents,’ Almudena Maíllo, Madrid’s Councillor for Tourism.

Regarding overnight stays, the city registered just under 12 million (11,961,895) in the first six months of the year and international visitors stayed for 2.38 nights on average. By the end of June 2026, Madrid counted 920 accommodations, some 48,600 rooms, and over 96,000 beds. The hospitality sector employed 15,249 workers, up 5.4% compared to 2025.

When concentrating one the month of June 2026, Madrid saw 884,881 tourist arrivals, an increase of 13.9% compared to 2025 and an all-time record for the month of June. Spending reached 1.86 billion euros, 7.3% more than in June 2025.

Regarding budget, the daily spending per tourist experienced decreased by 12.5% compared to June 2025. On average, people visiting Madrid spend €288 per day, slightly more than the Spanish national average of €211.

Madrid’s record-breaking six months can be explained through multiple factors. For example, the city was recently named as the new global headquarters of the World Travel & Tourism Council, while Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, inaugurated the new headquarters of UN Tourism at the end of June 2026. Moreover, European Best Destinations selected Madrid as Europe’s best destination for 2026 at the start of the year, a decision based on the city’s appeal which undoubtedly also caused a wave of arrivals in its turn.

L’article International spending in Madrid exceeds €10 billion in first half of 2026 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Yet, the National Statistics Institute has also published data showing that, after playing host to so many international holidaymakers, nearly a third of the Spanish population could not afford to take a week’s holiday of their own. The Institute says 32.2% of Spaniards did not take even a week’s vacation in 2025, and 27% have no holiday plans for summer 2026.

While rising fuel costs and air tickets due to Middle East tensions have affected the travel marketplace, the phenomenon taking place in Spain is not new. It’s an issue that Travel Tomorrow has reported before, with problems around the cost of living and housing manifesting themselves across Spanish territories in the form of anti-tourism protests and official crackdowns on short-term rental sites such as Airbnb that are blamed for taking accommodation off the mainstream market.

Speaking to Euronews, Ileana Izverniceanu, Communications Director at the Spanish Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), agrees that the cost of travel alone is not the only problem. “The fact that one in three Spaniards cannot go on holiday this summer is not an isolated event, but the reflection of an economic reality that OCU has been observing for years,” she pointed out.

The OCU’s Family Solvency Index remains below pre-COVID times and shows, according to Izverniceanu, that “On paper, the economy is improving, but many families still do not feel that recovery in their day-to-day lives.”

The cost of a family holiday starts at around €665, and that’s for a domestic trip “back home.” Beach holidays are pricier, averaging €1,555, and foreign vacations entail an outlay of €2,327 euros, sums that for many are “simply unaffordable,” the OCU says.

As well as creating tensions between residents and visitors, the issue is affecting how consumers spend on travel, the OCU highlights, with would-be holidaymakers choosing to go away for shorter periods, stay closer to home, and cut back their leisure budget.

With spending by foreign visitors anticipated by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism to go up by 10% compared to 2026, the OCU is calling for measures to ease the cost of living, particularly on energy, food, and housing, for Spanish citizens, so they are not left behind.

L’article Tourism is booming in Spain, but one in three Spaniards cannot afford a holiday est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

According to data from Chinese online travel platform Qunar, compiled by Spanish company Stamp, searches for flights between Shenzhen and Barcelona increased 33-fold shortly after Spain secured the title. Searches for flights to Tenerife rose 19-fold, while those to Málaga increased 10.5 times. Other routes also recorded significant growth, including flights from Kunming, Qingdao and Guiyang to Barcelona, as well as services from Kunming and Jinan to Madrid. 

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The surge comes as Spain continues to rebuild its connectivity with China. According to Spanish airport operator Aena, air traffic between the two countries reached 707,530 passengers during the first half of 2026, representing a 46.8% increase compared with the same period in 2025. The recovery has been supported by new air links and growing passenger numbers from Chinese cities including Chengdu and Guangzhou, with the World Cup victory further accelerating demand.

The timing is particularly significant as China prepares for Golden Week, its major national holiday running from 1 to 8 October, when millions of Chinese residents travel domestically and internationally. Stamp believes Spain’s football success offers retailers and tourism businesses an opportunity to attract more visitors during one of China’s busiest travel periods. Based on the size of Spain’s €1.69 trillion economy, Euronews estimated that the increase would amount to around €4 billion.

To help businesses prepare, the company has published guidance encouraging Spanish retailers to improve their visibility on Chinese social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu, Weibo and WeChat, where 77.8% of Chinese travellers plan their shopping before travelling. Stamp also recommends wider acceptance of digital payment systems including Alipay and WeChat Pay, which it says account for more than 90% of purchases made by Chinese tourists overseas. 

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“The Chinese tourist today does not have a Tax Free, but a Tax Refund: they pay full VAT at the till and, weeks later, if all goes well, get part of it back,” said Abel Navajas, co-founder and chief executive of Stamp. He argued that reducing friction in the VAT refund process by offering the discount at the point of purchase could help Spanish retailers benefit from the growing influx of Chinese visitors. 

The tourism boost also comes as Spain’s visitor economy continues to expand. Earlier this year, the country announced it was on course to welcome a record 100 million international tourists in 2026, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading travel destinations. 

The increased interest also reflects broader research suggesting that hosting or winning major sporting events can generate economic benefits beyond football. A 2024 study by the University of Aberdeen, published in the Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, found that winning the FIFA World Cup can increase a champion country’s year-on-year GDP growth by at least 0.48% over the two quarters following the final before the effect gradually fades.

L’article Spain’s World Cup win drives 33-fold surge in Chinese flight searches est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Under the Comprehensive Plan for the Prevention and Control of Tobacco Use 2024-2027, the new laws promise to prohibit smoking by under-18-year-olds, bring vape and shisha pipe rules in line with those governing tobacco, crack down on marketing activities, and increase the number of places designated as smoke-free areas.

It is the last point that is causing the most debate. The extent of the proposed smoke-free zones is sweeping, from eateries to beauty spots and sports centres, and beyond. Visitors to Spain should be aware that, if greenlit, the laws will mean no smoking or use of e-cigarettes on “the terraces of bars, restaurants and other hospitality establishments, sea and river beaches, public swimming pools, sports facilities, national parks, work vehicles, except when used exclusively for personal purposes, as well as venues where public events are held.”

What’s more, simply standing outside the establishment and lighting up will no longer be possible, thanks to protection zones of 15 metres around cultural centres, hospitals, libraries, museums, playgrounds, schools, sports facilities, and other public buildings.

Amid fears that smokers will stay away from hospitality venues instead of going out and spending, Spanish stakeholder groups have issued criticism of the proposals, arguing they “would ⁠have very limited effectiveness, as it could drive smokers indoors to places such as private homes, thereby increasing exposure to ​second-hand smoke.”

El Consejo de Ministros aprueba el proyecto de ley del tabaco y el proyecto de ley del medicamento. pic.twitter.com/OrsdLblive

— Ministerio de Sanidad (@sanidadgob) July 21, 2026

But, pointing to Spain’s 50,000 annual smoking-related deaths, Health Minister Mónica García explained: “Anyone who wants to have a coffee or enjoy their leisure time freely on a terrace should be able to do so without the smoke from nearby tables becoming part of the menu.”

Holidaymakers in Spain should be aware that, if the reforms come into force, the penalties for offenders will range from €200 to €600,000, depending on the breach. It is important to note that for the first time, it is not only suppliers who can fall foul of the rules. Under 18s who consume tobacco or tobacco-related products can be ordered to perform community service, or be fined too, upwards of €200, which could send a significant part of the holiday budget up in smoke.

L’article Travelling to Spain? New law set to ban smoking in wide range of public places est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The four-passenger Apache model hails from the 1950s and was one of the first twin-engined tourist aircraft, built by American firm Piper, considered one of the “Big Three” general aviation manufacturers, alongside Cessna and Beechcraft. Nearly 7,000 PA-23 Apaches were produced in total between 1952 and 1981.

Now, one lucky aviation enthusiast has the chance to acquire an example of the aircraft for the price of a round of coffees. The plane, which has been at the southern Spanish airport since 2018, has been officially declared abandoned, allowing it to go up for auction, with bids starting at just €10.

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European aviation law states that authorities must try to contact aircraft owners to recover the costs of storing the aircraft. Those avenues have been exhausted, officials said.

“We have tried to contact the owner many times,” a spokesperson for Seville Airport said. “Since we didn’t manage to reach anyone, the airport announced the situation of this aircraft three times in the Official State Gazette, in case the owner came forward to claim it.”

The plane has been described by Spanish airport authority AENA as in “bad condition, with the agency confirming to Euronews that it “cannot fly.” That means would-be purchasers will have to be prepared for potentially costly repairs, and even shipment.

Despite those liabilities, AENA is reported to have received numerous expressions of interest in the plane by email. Prospective buyers could include aviation fans, collectors of aviation memorabilia, and even people looking for an interesting real estate project.

But the Apache in question will have to compete in what is a crowded marketplace. Aircraft carcasses are a familiar scourge on airport tarmac, taking up valuable room in a pressured environment.

Like AENA, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), in charge of East African hubs, Wilson Airport and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, has had to hold mass aircraft auctions to recover its costs. Meanwhile, one of the eeriest aircraft “boneyards” in the world sits in the Arizona desert within Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) is a large plot of land where more than 4,000 airplanes are kept and cannibalised for parts. At 10.5km² in size, it is the largest aircraft graveyard in the US.

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