Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAmelia NeathFriday 07 August 2026 12:01 BSTMadrid saw a historic boost in visitor spending in the first half of 2026 as tourism numbers increased substantially (AFP/Getty)Madrid has reported international tourist spending of €10bn over the last six months, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute.It marks a 11.4 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025, when it stood at €8.9bn.The city welcomed over 5.6 million visitors in the first six months of the year, according the Madrid’s City Council. This is a 4.1 per cent rise year-on-year, with American, Italian, and British tourists being the largest overseas groups.Almudena Maíllo, the tourism city councillor, said tourism is “an engine of development for the city, generating economic activity in neighbourhoods and creating stable employment for thousands of Madrid residents.”It comes after issues with overtourism have sparked consecutive summer protests in many of Spain’s holiday hotspots.In fullMadrid hits record £8.5bn in tourism spending as visitor numbers soarMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in