FITUR 2025, one of the world’s leading tourism fairs, will take place from 22 to 26 January at IFEMA MADRID, with Brazil as the Partner Country. This year, the event will shine a spotlight on the expanding tourism business between the United Kingdom and Spain, reflecting the growing interest and opportunities for companies in both countries’ tourism industries.
Less than two months before the event begins, around 20 British companies have already confirmed their participation, marking a strong British presence at the fair. A key focus will be the Travel Technology sector, which will see prominent showcases of digital and tech-driven solutions for the tourism industry.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, the United Kingdom remains Spain’s largest outbound market, with 12.66 million British tourists visiting Spain up to August 2024. This marks a 7.8% increase in tourists and a 16% rise in spending, which reached €15.758 billion. In 2023, British visitors made up 20.4% of the total number of tourists to Spain, with their spending increasing by 16% to €19.9 billion. There has also been a noticeable shift towards mid-season travel, contributing to the deseasonalisation of tourism between the two countries.
On the flip side, Spain is also a growing source of tourists for the UK. In the first half of 2024, 1.3 million Spanish visitors travelled to the UK, an increase of 35% from the same period the previous year. This surge has also brought a 48% rise in spending by Spanish tourists. In 2023, the UK welcomed 2.2 million Spanish visitors, according to Visit Britain.
Turespaña, the Spanish tourism board, reports that British tourists to Spain in 2023 were largely leisure travellers, with the majority opting to stay in hotels. Many of these visitors were from the middle class, had higher education qualifications, and tended to be couples, followed by families. Popular activities for British visitors included beach holidays, shopping, and city tourism.
For Spain, the UK continues to be a crucial market. Visit Britain highlighted that in 2023, 46% of Spanish spending in the UK came from holiday visits, while 31% was attributed to visits to friends and family, and 15% came from business. More than 60% of Spanish tourists to the UK were repeat visitors, and 98% said they would “probably” or “very probably” recommend the UK for a holiday or short break.
FITUR 2025 will also feature an extensive range of exhibitors from over 150 countries, alongside a diverse programme of events and business opportunities. The fair aims to build on the success of previous years, with FITUR 2024 attracting over 9,000 companies and more than 250,000 visitors.
With its focus on innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation, FITUR 2025 is poised to further strengthen the ties between the UK and Spain, highlighting the growing collaboration and opportunities within the tourism sector.