Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), has forecasted significant growth for the tourism sector in Spain for the year 2024. According to the organization, the tourism GDP in the country is expected to increase by 6.2% compared to 2019, a period that saw record figures before the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a press conference, Julia Simpson reported that the GDP of the Spanish tourism sector could reach 224.8 billion euros in 2024, representing an increase of 6.1% compared to the 211.8 billion euros recorded in 2023. Simpson highlighted the sector's resilience and growth potential, emphasizing the importance of this increase for the national economy.

Tourism in Spain is not only growing economically but also in terms of job creation. In 2023, the sector employed 2.67 million people, 9.1% more than before the pandemic. For 2024, the number of employees in the sector is expected to rise to 2.99 million, representing an 11.9% growth in one year. Simpson stressed the importance of this job creation, highlighting how it contributes to funding public services and driving economic development.

Increase in Visitor Spending

The WTTC also anticipates a significant increase in international visitor spending in Spain. In 2024, international tourists are expected to spend 98.6 billion euros, 11.1% more than in 2019 and almost 8% more than in 2023. Meanwhile, domestic visitor spending will also increase, reaching 72.2 billion euros, 5.9% more than the year before the pandemic.

Despite the optimism, Simpson warned of the challenges facing the sector, including the need to reduce environmental impact. In this regard, she emphasized the importance of continuing to electrify vehicles in the tourism sector and promoting the use of sustainable fuels such as SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel). Currently, only 0.5% of the necessary SAF is produced globally, with the United States being the main producer.

Simpson also addressed the issue of sustainability and tourist overcrowding, especially in urban and coastal destinations such as Madrid and Barcelona. She highlighted the importance of properly managing tourist concentration to avoid problems like rising housing prices. Additionally, she noted that tourist rentals, such as those offered by platforms like Airbnb, can help decongest central areas of cities and revitalize peripheral neighborhoods.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, Simpson predicted that tourism and travel will be worth more than eleven trillion dollars globally by the end of this year, employing 348 million people. In Spain, the tourism sector is expected to grow at twice the rate of the general GDP over the next decade, reaching a value of 225 billion euros in 2024 and representing 17% of the country's economy.