By Michael Baginski/ The Tourist Office of Spain celebrated an “amazing” 2025 for the destination out of Canada at an event in Toronto Wednesday night – a year that proved “even better than we thought,” according to the office’s Canadian director Isabel Martín Benítez.
Canadian visitations to the Iberian nation surpassed 75,000 and eclipsed 2024’s peak in May and July, with average stays increasing to eight days (from six), Benítez said at the media gathering at the Portland Square Social Club, which included requisite flamenco flair, and a serving of special Spanish jamon (ham).
“As Canadian travellers continue to change their preferences and embrace new destinations, there’s no question that Spain’s mix of climate, history, cultural diversity, and gastronomy is creating greater connectivity between our two countries,” she said, adding, “(And) as we look ahead to 2026, we see this momentum and friendship continuing to grow,” she added.
Chatting with Travel Industry Today, Benítez said she was eager to present Spain as a great destination for families in particular next year, and to highlight the unique, sometimes off-the-beaten-track opportunities for visitors beyond well-known destination mainstays Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, and Seville. That would include the spectacular Canary Islands – a spot she said she is soon hoping to visit herself.
Additional 2026 themes will be off-season/winter destination travel and shining a light on authentic experiences in regions like Basque Country, and Galicia.
Also, showcasing Spanish gateways that have recently got (or will be getting) new flights from Canada, like Valencia.
Benítez pointed to a bevy of direct flights from Canada from Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat (10 flights/wk) boosting Canadian access to Spain through major gateways Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Halifax. And next year a trio of new services will take flight:
- Montreal to Palma de Mallorca, from Air Canada
- Halifax to Madrid, from WestJet
- The return of Iberia year-round, Toronto to Madrid
Trade talk
Benítez noted that ACTA recently concluded a hugely successful event in Castilla y León, with the international summit attracting 100 agents at the end of October.
And following the Canadian debut of its sustainability-focused Spain Talks series earlier this year in Toronto, Spain’s tourist office will host its major annual tourism summit for North American travel advisors in Montreal in 2026.
Meanwhile, highlights on Spain’s 2026 tourism calendar will include the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death, a solar eclipse (August), and the increasingly popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walking route.
If this article was shared with you by a friend or colleague, you may enjoy receiving your own copy of Travel Industry Today with the latest travel news and reviews each weekday morning. It’s absolutely free – just CLICK HERE.