Spain reports record tourism figures As Spain has struggled through the past two years of recession, with an unemployment rate currently above 26 per cent, tourism has been a rare source of positive economic news. It accounts for 11 per cent of the economy, and Spain is the third-most visited country in the world, tied with China and behind only the United States and France, figures from the World Tourism Organisation show. Spain's surging tourist numbers at the height of the summer holidays in August came most of all from three stronger European economies: two million from Britain, 1.8 million from France and 1.2 million from Germany. Overall from January to August, 42.3 million foreign tourists came to Spain - 4.5 per cent more than the same period last year and another record high, the ministry's data showed. Spain expert guides Read our comprehensive guides to Spain's most popular regions and cities, written by experts who know the city inside-out. Barcelona Costa Brava Ibiza Lanzarote Madrid Majorca Malaga Menorca Valencia