– The NY-ASTA Summer Gala, with TURESPAÑA as the lead sponsor, brought together nearly 200 travel industry professionals in New York City.
– The U.S. travel market to Spain continues to show positive growth in 2025, with arrivals and spending up in the first half of the year.
New York, August 1, 2025 – The Spain Tourism Institute (TURESPAÑA), through its New York office and as the lead sponsor of the event, participated in the highly anticipated NY-ASTA Summer Gala, hosted by the New York chapter of the American Society of Travel Advisors, on July 24. The event reinforced Spain’s position as a top destination choice for American travelers and highlighted the country’s significance within global travel spending.
Nearly 200 tour operators and industry professionals attended the day’s program, which included a golf tournament, a workshop, and a formal dinner. During the gala, the first spots of the new campaign *Do you think you know Spain? Think again!*, launched on June 26, 2025, were unveiled. This campaign showcases Spain’s unexpected and lesser-known destinations, promoting responsible travel and the slow travel movement, aiming to engage the U.S. market with an authentic, fresh image of Spain beyond its traditional tourist hubs.
NY-ASTA is the New York chapter of the American Society of Travel Advisors, representing leading U.S. tour operators and travel agents. It plays a key role in fostering collaboration within the travel sector and supporting international destination promotion, including Spain.
According to the Portrait of American Travelers study by the Spanish Tourism Office, three out of four New Yorkers choosing Spain rely on professional travel agencies to plan their trips, underscoring the importance of tour operators in attracting this market.
In 2024, Spain welcomed around 4.2 million tourists from the United States, generating travel expenditures exceeding 9 billion euros. This positive trend continues into 2025, with arrivals from January to June growing by 3.4% to 2.1 million, and U.S. travel spending to Spain increasing by 8.1% to 4.948 billion euros. These updated figures confirm the U.S. market as a major contributor to Spain’s tourism sector.
Looking forward, TURESPAÑA’s New York office reaffirms its commitment to promoting the diversity and quality of Spanish destinations, working closely with travel professionals to maintain this promising momentum.
For more information, please contact the Spanish Tourism Office in New York at: nuevayork@tourspain.es.
