Andalusia expects more jobs, tourists and tourism revenue in summer 2026

Andalusia’s tourism industry is approaching another peak season with expectations of further growth. The region expects to receive around 14.2 million tourists between July and September 2026, representing an increase of 2.6% compared with the same period last year.

The forecasts point not only to a rise in visitor numbers. Employment generated by the sector could grow by between 5% and 7%, while tourism revenue is expected to increase by 3.6% in nominal terms.

Should these estimates be met, the tourism industry would employ approximately 550,000 people between June and September, reinforcing its importance to the Andalusian economy during the months of highest demand.

Employment and revenue will grow faster than visitor numbers

One of the main conclusions of the report is that the expected growth in employment and revenue will exceed the increase in the number of tourists.

This difference suggests a move towards tourism that generates a greater economic impact in local destinations. The aim is not only to attract more visitors, but also to ensure that each stay creates more activity for hotels, restaurants, shops, leisure companies and other tourism-related businesses.

The forecast 3.6% rise in revenue refers to nominal growth, meaning that the effect of price changes has not been deducted.

Andalusia expects 9.7 million Spanish tourists

The domestic market will continue to provide the majority of visitors during the summer season.

Forecasts point to the arrival of 9.7 million Spanish tourists, 1.7% more than in summer 2025. These figures would allow Andalusia to maintain its position as one of the leading holiday destinations for residents of Spain.

International tourism, although smaller in volume, is expected to record stronger growth. The region forecasts 4.5 million foreign visitors, representing an increase of 4.5%.

Together, international markets are expected to contribute significantly to the growth in both visitor numbers and hotel stays.

Hotels will record more than 21 million overnight stays

Hotels across Andalusia are expected to register 21.2 million overnight stays between July and September, 3% more than during the previous peak season.

Growth is forecast to remain relatively stable throughout the summer:

• July: an increase of 2.9%.
• August: growth of 3%.
• September: a rise of 3.1%.

The expected performance in September confirms the gradual extension of the tourism season beyond July and August. This trend could help distribute demand more evenly and extend business activity and tourism-related employment.

International visitors are expected to account for approximately 10.8 million hotel stays, 5.6% more than in 2025. Domestic tourists, meanwhile, would generate 10.4 million overnight stays, with more moderate growth of 0.4%.

Málaga among the provinces expecting the strongest hotel growth

All eight Andalusian provinces are expected to record an increase in hotel overnight stays.

Seville would lead the growth with a forecast rise of 7.4%, followed by Málaga, with an increase of 3.5%, and Granada, with 3.3%.

The forecast confirms the importance of Málaga and the Costa del Sol within Andalusia’s tourism industry. The province has a wide range of hotels, holiday apartments, restaurants, nautical activities, golf courses and services aimed at both domestic and international visitors.

The rise in overnight stays could have a particularly significant impact on coastal municipalities, where summer is one of the most important periods of economic activity.

Hotel occupancy will peak in August

The average hotel occupancy rate in Andalusia is expected to reach around 68% of available rooms, 1.4 percentage points higher than the previous summer.

August will once again be the busiest month, with an expected occupancy rate of 73.37%. July is forecast to reach 66.95%, while September would stand at 63.8%.

These figures reflect high use of hotel capacity throughout the peak season, although they also show that bookings remain particularly concentrated in August.

More flights and almost five million seats at Málaga Airport

Air connectivity is also expected to increase during the summer. Andalusian airports are forecast to receive around 38,500 flights between July and September, 7.7% more than during the same period in 2025.

Airlines will offer a total of 6.9 million seats, representing an increase of 8.6%. The strongest growth is expected in September, when capacity could rise by 10.7%.

Spain will remain the largest market by number of seats, with 1.79 million places and growth of 3.4%. However, some of the strongest increases are expected from international markets including Poland, Italy, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.

Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport will account for almost five million seats, 7.6% more than the previous summer. This capacity strengthens its role as Andalusia’s main gateway for international tourism.

A key summer for Andalusia’s tourism sector

The forecasts point to a positive season for hotels, restaurants, shops, transport companies and businesses connected to leisure and tourism experiences.

Growth in international visitors, expanded air capacity and the rise in hotel stays are expected to maintain a high level of activity throughout the summer.

The main challenge will be to ensure that this growth translates into stable employment, higher business revenue and benefits for local destinations, while also managing issues such as mobility, resource consumption, coexistence with residents and pressure on the most visited areas.

The figures and forecasts included in this article come from the official information published by the Andalusian Regional Government’s Department of Tourism and Andalusia Abroad.