The affiliates related to tourist activities grew in July by 110,712 people (+3.7%), reaching a volume close to 3.1 million employed, according to the data released this Monday by Turespaña.
When compared to the evolution of employment in the whole country, whose labor market advanced by 2.8% year-on-year in that month, tourism already concentrates 13.9% of the total affiliates.
The variation of affiliates was positive in hospitality, where 70,409 workers were added (21,246 in accommodation services and 49,163 in food and beverage services). In contrast, in travel agencies, the balance was negative, with a reduction of 1,587 employees.
The Ministry of Industry and Tourism specifies that the figure for travel agencies does not imply a real contraction of activity, as it is conditioned by the changes introduced in the CNAE, which have reclassified some activities that were previously included under the heading of "travel agencies" into other categories.
EMPLOYEES INCREASE BY 4.1%
In July, the number of employees in the tourism sector (which represents 85%) increased by 4.1% compared to the same month of the previous year.
By branches, salaried employment decreased in travel agencies and tour operators (fell by 1.5%) and advanced in hospitality (4%). Within this latter area, there was an increase of 3.6% in accommodation services and 4.1% in food and beverage services.
Self-employment linked to tourism, which represents 15% of the total affiliates, rose by 1.8%. In hospitality, there was an increase of 1.3%, driven by the rise in accommodation services (17%) and in food and beverage services (0.1%).
In travel agencies, a year-on-year decrease of 4.1% in the number of self-employed workers is detected, a decline also conditioned by the modification of the CNAE.
VALENCIAN COMMUNITY, WHERE EMPLOYMENT GROWS THE MOST
In July 2026, the total employment in hospitality, travel agencies, and tour operators increased in all autonomous communities, with the only exception of Ceuta and Melilla.
In absolute terms, the largest increase was recorded in Andalusia, with 12,320 more affiliates. When analyzed in percentage, the most intense rise occurred in the Valencian Community (5%), just as it happened in the month of June.