Two-Way Tourism Between China and Spain Grows Steadily, Promoting Cultural Exchanges

Latest statistics released by the Spanish Tourism Institute show that Spain received 795,000 Chinese tourists in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 22.5% compared with 2024. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, more than 210,000 Spanish citizens visited China in 2025, a year-on-year increase of about 33.7%, hitting a record high. Two-way tourism between China and Spain has maintained a steady growth trend, with the scale of exchanges continuing to expand.

Chinese tourists traveling to Spain have gradually moved away from the single sightseeing mode, showing the characteristics of autonomy and in-depth experience. Their travel time is no longer limited to traditional peak seasons but has extended to the off-season from November to February of the following year, with free independent travelers accounting for 85%. In addition to visiting traditional attractions such as museums, Chinese tourists pay more attention to participating in local folk activities and experiencing daily urban life to further feel the cultural connotation of Spain.

Meanwhile, Spanish tourists visiting China have also shifted from superficial sightseeing to in-depth cultural exploration. Historical and cultural research, folk experience and parent-child trips have gradually increased in proportion. Cities with both historical heritage and regional characteristics, such as Beijing, Xi’an, Suzhou and Chengdu, have become popular destinations for Spanish tourists to China.

Almudena Mayo, in charge of tourism affairs of the Madrid Municipal Government, said Spain enjoys a mild climate in winter with sufficient sunshine in most areas and boasts 50 world cultural heritage sites. The overall reduction in the number of tourists during the traditional winter off-season facilitates in-depth experiences for Chinese tourists. Since 2019, Casa Batlló, a world cultural heritage site in Barcelona, has continuously held the "Chinese Red" lighting event during the Spring Festival, which has become an important platform for China-Europe cultural exchanges.

Joanna, Head of Asia Department of Casa Batlló, stated that she hopes to take world heritage as a bridge and use culture, a universal language, to let more European people understand the contemporary expression of Chinese culture through festivals and art. Many scenic spots in Spain have continuously strengthened Chinese services and cultural interpretation, and gradually improved supporting services such as Chinese guided tours, digital ticket purchasing and mobile payment.

China has also continuously optimized inbound tourism services for Spanish tourists, simplifying visa procedures, adding visa application centers in major Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, and launching convenient services such as online appointment and document pre-review. Convenient transportation has provided important support for two-way tourism. From winter 2025 to spring 2026, the density of direct flights between China and Spain reached an all-time high, an increase of 98% compared with the same period in 2019, covering 9 Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Mario Otero, Director of Madrid Barajas International Airport, said Madrid is not only a tourist destination for Chinese tourists but also a convenient transit hub to Latin America. Alberto Ruiz, Director General of Industrial Projects of the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism, noted that tourism is one of the most dynamic areas of bilateral cooperation between Spain and China, promoting people-to-people understanding and laying a solid folk foundation for bilateral relations.