FITURLingua has announced a record year for language tourism in Spain, with 177,576students in 2025—an increase of 12.77%.

Demand forSpanish language education has never been higher, a trend reflected in thegrowing number of people traveling to Spain to learn Spanish. Most students in2025 came from Italy, followed by Germany, the United States, France, theUnited Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, and Morocco.

TheInternational Tourism Trade Fair hosted the sixth edition of FITUR Lingua,organized by FITUR in collaboration with FEDELE. The event analyzed the role oflanguage as a driving force for tourism. (FEDELE is the Spanish Federation ofSchools of Spanish as a Foreign Language.)

At thetrade fair, a preview of the results from FEDELE’s sector report was presented.According to the report, a total of 177,576 students were enrolled inFEDELE-affiliated centers in Spain in 2025, representing an increase of 12.77%compared to 2024. During the event, a range of experts also examined the roleof language as a multiplier effect for tourism, as well as a key factor in thecultural and educational experience of destinations.

Focus onthe New Profile of the Language Tourist

Speakers atFITUR Lingua highlighted the new profile of the language tourist and how theinterests, expectations, and behaviors of international students have evolved.Based on preliminary data from FEDELE’s report and the ELE Student in Spainstudy conducted in collaboration with the University of Seville, discussionsfocused on the current state of language tourism and the factors influencingdestination choice.

DanielEscalona, Marketing Director of FEDELE, noted that the more than 170,000students who studied Spanish at FEDELE-affiliated centers in 2025 represent “arecord for language tourism in Spain, with an average of 1,585 students percenter. The average length of stay in Spain was 4.6 weeks per student, and theresulting economic impact amounts to €475 million.”

At the sametime, Begoña Llovet, Vice President of FEDELE, emphasized the importance ofthese figures, pointing out the need to “create differentiated programs andproducts for more demanding students who are seeking a more authenticexperience of the country.”

PaoloBarilari, President of the International Federation of Education ConsultantsAssociations (FELCA), stated that “Spain has always been a very attractivecountry for Italians.” He warned that “to attract even more students, schoolsmust sell the entire language experience, so that students can gain a deepunderstanding of the people and culture in the cities.”

StudentAccommodation Can Be a Challenge

Anotherstudy conducted by EDUSPAIN and ICEX Spain Export and Investment, titled TheImpact of Real Estate on the Attraction of International Students, examinedhow the real estate sector affects Spain’s positioning as a destination forinternational students. Bárbara García, co-author of the study, explained that“measures are needed in the area of student housing to ensure that Spainremains a preferred education destination.”

CristinaGrasset, Director of Spain’s Education Program, added that “adequateaccommodation has a direct impact on cultural integration, stress levels, andacademic performance.” She warned that “the loss of international students hasa major economic impact and also affects the national education community.”

At anotherpoint during the event, new educational and tourism experiences aimed atimproving destination quality were presented. Participants included the SpanishAssociation of Companies Promoting Language Courses Abroad (ASEPROCE), ASILS,Groupement FLE, and Cooltourspain. In addition, international cooperation washighlighted as a fundamental pillar of the tourism multiplier effect,underscoring the importance of partnerships and international collaboration inpromoting the Spanish language abroad.

Public–PrivateCollaboration

Thissession also presented initiatives promoted by organizations such as TURESPAÑA,the Directorate-General for the Spanish-Speaking World at the Ministry ofForeign Affairs, and the Instituto Cervantes, all of which work to promote theSpanish language and academic mobility. Cristina Gozalo, Head of the MICE andTourism Products Unit at TURESPAÑA, emphasized “the importance ofpublic–private collaboration in language tourism to strengthen knowledge ofSpanish and its international reach.”

Meanwhile,Mónica Colomer, Director-General of Spanish Worldwide, reviewed the variousdimensions of the Spanish language (translation, artificial intelligence,legislation, among others). She explained “how all of these influence awarenessof the language and act as incentives to study Spanish in Spain.”

The eventconcluded with a joint reflection session in which representatives fromdifferent destinations and organizations discussed the new strategies that needto be developed by schools, regions, and industry professionals. During theroundtable discussions, various regional entities that host SpanishWeek—FEDELE’s flagship event—were interviewed, presenting language tourismstrategies from local and regional perspectives. The day also included severalnetworking activities aimed at encouraging knowledge exchange and creatingsynergies.

Text written by Jonny Erixon