Alicante is having a moment. Walk through the city centre, along the Explanada or down by the marina and you will hear languages from across Europe. More and more international tourists are choosing Alicante for its sunshine, gastronomy and easy to explore city centre.
And the numbers back it up.
Alicante: Foreign tourism surges
According to data from the Tourism Chair at the University of Alicante, international tourism grew by 20% in 2025, reaching 935,000 foreign visitors.
Now, forecasts for 2026 suggest Alicante could surpass one million international tourists for the first time.
In total, the city welcomed 1.7 million visitors last year, marking a record breaking year for tourism.
Several factors are driving this growth, including global travel trends, increased flight capacity and a surge in cruise tourism.
Airport growth fuels visitor numbers
The Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport continues to expand, playing a key role in the city’s tourism boom.
In 2025, the airport handled 19,950,394 passengers, an 8% increase compared to the previous year. Expectations for 2026 suggest this figure will rise even further.
With new routes, increased capacity and growing demand, Alicante is becoming one of Spain’s busiest gateways.
Cruise tourism also on the rise
Tourism arriving by sea is also growing rapidly. The Cruise Association forecasts:
- 113 cruise ship visits
- 325,000 cruise passengers
- €84 million economic impact
These figures further strengthen Alicante’s position as a Mediterranean tourism hotspot.
A year round destination
One of Alicante’s biggest advantages is its year round appeal. With around 320 days of sunshine each year, the city attracts visitors beyond the traditional summer months.
February 2026 figures already show this trend continuing, with:
- 80% hotel occupancy in the city centre
- 90% occupancy in beach areas
This growth outside peak season reflects a shift towards year round tourism.
