International tourist spending in Europe seen up 11% this year, report says

MADRID (Reuters) -International travel spending in Europe is expected to rise by 11% to $838 billion this year, with France and Spain among the countries set to receive record numbers of tourists, according to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

The rosy forecast may be influenced in part by some tourists avoiding the United States as the WTTC expects foreign visitors' spending in the U.S. to decline by about 7% this year.

The group's CEO, Julia Simpson, told a press briefing that neighbouring Canadians and Mexicans might opt against travel to the U.S. in light of President Donald Trump's trade and migration policies, or unfavourable currency exchange rates, "which means that more people will come to Europe".

The WTTC, which represents the travel industry's private sector, estimated tourists would spend 6% - or 113.2 billion euros ($127.7 billion) - more in Spain this year than in 2024, with between 98 and 100 million visitors topping last year's record of 94 million.

"Americans will continue to travel abroad ... and they will be very welcome in Spain," Simpson said.

According to the WTTC, France will still receive more tourists than Spain, while the U.S. remains the world's largest travel and tourism market.

($1 = 0.8865 euros)

(Reporting by Corina Pons. Editing by David Latona and Mark Potter)