The Spanish Tourist Office has welcomed reports from specialist tour operators of increasing demand for the destination, with cycling and hiking trips and ‘foodie’ holidays among the key growth areas.
City-break specialist Kirker Holidays said bookings to Spain in the first two months of this year were up 10% compared with last year. Madrid recorded a 66% increase, while bookings for Bilbao more than tripled.
Macs Adventure revealed there has been growing interest in lesser-known walking itineraries, while sales for self-guided cycling trips are up nearly 63% year on year.
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Active holidays operator Headwater said bookings to Spain have grown 12% year on year, with strong demand for Camino de Santiago trips, cycling holidays in Majorca and Andalucia and walking in Andalucia and Catalonia.
Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, said: “We are delighted that more and more British holidaymakers are choosing to discover the diversity of experiences and landscapes which Spain holds, venturing into the valleys and mountains of Extremadura and along the rugged coastlines of Asturias and the Basque Country.”
He added: “We look forward to welcoming more British tourists as they stay longer and explore further afield, helping us develop a more sustainable tourism for the future.”
Patrick Millar, head of marketing at Kirker Holidays, said that in addition to the growth in bookings for Madrid and Bilbao, the smaller cities of Avila, Salamanca and Toledo have also attracted high demand. Travellers are increasingly choosing boutique properties in these destinations, he added.
Graham Horner, chief growth officer at Macs Adventure, said: “For walking holidays, the Camino continues to be our best-selling route in Spain, but this year we are also seeing more interest in lesser known itineraries, including Walking the Catalan Coast in Style and Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema.”
He added: “Our top three cycling itineraries in Spain are Cycling Paradores of Extremadura and Cycle Andalucia, Seville to Cadiz and Cycling the Camino Frances: Leon to Santiago.”
Sara Hughes, Spain product manager at Headwater, said: “Fuerteventura, El Hierro and Tenerife have emerged as the most popular Canary Islands for off-the-beaten-track walking holidays and with availability already limited, enquiries are coming in for autumn/winter 2025 and spring 2026.
“Interest in winter sun walking trips away from popular tourist resorts remains strong, as travellers seek authentic, nature-focused escapes in the Canaries’ stunning landscapes.”
Camino de Santiago. Photo: Dario Pena/Shutterstock