International families are spending more time and money in Murcia

Around 357,000 families from outside Spain visit the Region of Murcia each year, staying for nearly 10 days

The Región de Murcia is continuing to grow as a destination for international family tourism, with recent figures showing a steady rise in both visitor numbers and overall spending.

In 2025, the Region welcomed an average of 357,000 foreign families, who contributed around €438 million to the local economy. It’s quite a shift for an area that has traditionally been more popular with Spanish holidaymakers, particularly along the coast, but is now starting to attract more attention from families travelling from abroad.

A national study places Murcia as the sixth most relevant region in Spain for this type of tourism. It remains some way behind more established destinations such as the Balearic Islands, Cataluña and Andalucía, which each account for a much larger share of international visitors, but Murcia’s position shows consistent growth over time rather than a one-off increase.

One of the areas where the Region stands out is the length of stay. Families spend an average of 9.6 days in Murcia, making it one of the longest stays in the country. Daily spending is estimated at €128, bringing the average total spend per trip to €1,227. Prices for accommodation and eating out are more reasonable compared to other tourist spots on the coast of Spain, that combined with the pace of life, makes it the perfect spot for that annual family holiday.

Unsurprisingly, sun and beach holidays remain the main reason for travel, accounting for the largest share of visits. Families tend to look for the safest beaches with lots of local amenities and the Mar Menor provides that in spades. Theme parks and other family attractions are more of a draw here than in other parts of Spain as well, showing that the Region has plenty of things for families to enjoy.

As with much of Spain, demand is clearly seasonal. Visitor numbers tend to peak during the summer months and around key holiday periods such as Semana Santa, reflecting school holiday calendars in the countries visitors are coming from. Hotels remain the most common accommodation choice, while package holidays are used more frequently by families than by other types of travellers.

Alongside this, the Región de Murcia also attracts a larger number of international visitors travelling without children, with an average of more than 750,000 arrivals each year. This group tends to stay even longer, with an average visit of 13.2 days, the highest in Spain. Their total spend is also higher, although their daily spending is slightly lower.

Overall, while Murcia still sits behind Spain’s best-known tourism regions in terms of volume, the direction is fairly clear. The Region is gradually building a stronger presence among international families, with longer stays and steady spending helping to support that growth.

Read also: 7 slow tourism experiences in the Region of Murcia

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