Learning Spanish in 2025 wasn’t just a nice-to-have — for many travellers it made the difference between a standard holiday and a truly immersive cultural experience. Thanks to growing interest in language tourism, and clear evidence that knowing Spanish enriches trips, the past year showed how language skills can transform travel.
Why Did Spanish Become a Travel Game‑Changer in 2025?
Data from FITUR Lingua — the major language‑tourism fair in Spain — show just how big learning Spanish has become. According to their 2025 report, over 158,000 students travelled to Spain in 2024 specifically to learn Spanish, generating roughly €454 million in economic impact.
That’s not a niche crowd — and their presence helped drive a wider trend in 2025: more international travellers viewing Spanish not just as a school subject, but as a key tool to unlock richer travel experiences. One organiser at FITUR Lingua said the surge reflected “the robust state of language tourism” and emphasised the growing role of Spanish teachers in promoting deeper cultural connections.
For individual travellers — even those not enrolled in formal courses — data from a travel‑language survey by Preply reinforced why learning the local language can matter. The survey found that 54% of travellers said knowing the local language helped them navigate a new place (reading signs, asking directions, etc.). Nearly half said it made everyday tasks like ordering food or checking into accommodation easier, and a similar proportion reported greater enjoyment of their trip as a result.
How Did Spanish Unlock More Authentic and Stress‑Free Travel in 2025?
Thanks to these broader shifts, many travellers in 2025 found that Spanish empowered them to go beyond tourist clichés. Being able to understand menus, ask locals for recommendations, or strike up spontaneous conversations — small things that make a big difference — helped travellers step out of the usual touristic bubble.
According to Preply’s survey, nearly 49% of respondents said that speaking the local language allowed more meaningful interactions with locals: chatting with market vendors, understanding cultural references, and getting insider tips that guidebooks don’t offer.
Moreover, language knowledge helped reduce travel stress: 43% said it lowered anxiety while abroad, and 45% felt more connected to the places they visited.
On a macro level, the revival — and growth — of language tourism across Spain reinforced this “language = access” mindset. As more travellers chose language courses in Spanish cities during 2024–2025, Spanish increasingly became the passport to deeper cultural immersion rather than just a holiday add-on.
