Monday, June 16, 2025
Despite growing competition from the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Italy, Spain continues its unmatched dominance as the top international destination for Portuguese tourists in 2025. While other countries are seeing increases in flight capacity and tourist interest, none have managed to surpass Spain’s powerful lead, as Portuguese travelers consistently favor its close proximity, cultural familiarity, and diverse vacation offerings during the spring and summer travel season.
Spain Holds Firm as the Top International Destination for Portuguese Travelers in Spring and Summer 2025 Despite Easing Growth
Spain continues to be the leading destination for Portuguese tourists heading abroad during the spring and summer seasons of 2025. While the pace of growth has slowed when compared to the previous two years of post-pandemic recovery, Spain still maintains a dominant lead over its closest European competitors such as France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Turkey. These insights are based on the latest findings from Turespaña’s recently released report titled “Market Trends for Spring/Summer 2025.”
The strength of Spain’s position is evident when reviewing spending data compiled by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE.ES). In 2024, Portuguese tourists spent roughly one billion seven hundred twenty-three million euros while visiting Spain. This figure represents a strong nine point seven percent increase compared to the spending levels recorded in 2023. More impressively, the spending volume marks a significant eighty percent surge when compared to pre-pandemic figures from 2019, showcasing just how deeply Spanish destinations resonate with Portuguese holidaymakers even after several years of disruption to global travel.
Forecasts for 2025 indicate that the number of Portuguese travelers visiting Spain, as well as their spending, is expected to maintain steady growth. Forecasts estimate that visitor numbers and spending will grow by approximately eight point six percent and eight point three percent, respectively. However, analysts also observe that this growth rate reflects a gradual slowdown when compared to the more rapid expansion seen in the immediate years following the pandemic’s peak.
One of the key drivers of this ongoing demand is the strong air connectivity between Portugal and Spain. For the upcoming period spanning April 1 to September 30, 2025, the scheduled airline seat capacity from Portugal to Spanish destinations is forecasted to rise by three point five percent over the same timeframe in 2024. This increase ensures that Spain remains the fourth most important international air route from Portugal, accounting for ten point one percent of all outbound flight seats. Only domestic routes within Portugal (nineteen percent), the United Kingdom (fourteen point three percent), and France (ten point four percent) command a higher share of air traffic during this period.
The broader European travel landscape also reveals interesting trends. France is the only major destination forecasted to see a decline in seat capacity for the summer of 2025, with scheduled seats dropping to approximately two point five million — a decrease of three point three percent. Conversely, several other nations are enjoying notable growth in air connectivity. Germany, for instance, is projected to handle one point eight million seats, an increase of eight point four percent. Italy is expected to reach one point one million seats, marking a twelve point six percent rise. The Netherlands anticipates nine hundred thirty-one thousand seats, reflecting a ten point one percent increase. Brazil is projected to accommodate eight hundred sixty thousand seats, up ten point nine percent, while Cape Verde and Turkey are seeing even stronger increases, with Cape Verde expecting two hundred thirty-five thousand seats (up twenty-five point eight percent) and Turkey reaching one hundred seventy-five thousand seats (up twelve point eight percent). Most of these routes rely predominantly on air travel, underlining the growing competition for Portuguese tourists’ attention.
Online behavior among Portuguese travelers further underscores Spain’s enduring appeal. Data from flight search engines indicates that searches for flights from Portugal to Spain during spring and summer 2025 rose by seventeen point four percent compared to the same period in 2024. These searches account for sixteen point seven percent of total international flight searches made by Portuguese travelers during this timeframe. However, broader searches for international flights have grown even more rapidly, posting a year-on-year increase of twenty-five point four percent. This suggests that while Spain remains a strong favorite, Portuguese travelers are also exploring a wider variety of global destinations, especially during certain months such as October and December 2024.
Accommodation search trends on Google further reflect Spain’s consistent leadership. In March 2025, Spain attracted the highest volume of accommodation searches from Portuguese travelers, commanding thirty-eight point seven percent of the total market share.Although this represents a modest decline of two point eight percentage points compared to March 2024, it still places Spain far ahead of rival destinations like France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Notably, while Spain experienced a slight dip in market share, its competitors recorded only marginal increases.
Spain continues to hold an unbeatable lead as the top destination for Portuguese tourists in 2025, leaving the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Italy trailing far behind despite growing competition.
In summary, Spain’s deep cultural, linguistic, and geographic ties with Portugal continue to serve as powerful magnets for Portuguese tourists. Even as growth moderates from its earlier highs, the combination of strong air connectivity, a broad range of appealing destinations, and deeply rooted familiarity ensures that Spain remains the preferred international choice for Portuguese travelers in the upcoming 2025 spring and summer seasons.
