Spain Wedding Tourism Association (SWTA) is launched, the association aiming to position Spain as a world leader in wedding tourism

September 2026. — From today, Spain has a new organisation dedicated to boosting one of the tourism segments with the greatest potential for growth and international reach: wedding tourism. The Spain Wedding Tourism Association (SWTA) has been launched as a non-profit association with a clear mission: to position Spain among the top international destinations for weddings and to turn bridal tourism into an industry that is recognised, structured and represented before institutions. The initiative brings together professionals and companies linked to tourism, hospitality and the wedding industry, from wedding planners and hotels to event venues, photographers and specialist suppliers, with the aim of creating a collaborative network that allows the sector to be strengthened and the talent and excellence that exist in Spain to be projected internationally. A sector with enormous economic potential. The birth of the SWTA also responds to a reality: Spain is already a benchmark destination for international weddings, but the sector still has significant room for growth and institutional recognition. According to data collected by the association from the Destination Wedding Market Report 2025 by ResearchAndMarkets, Spain holds fifth place worldwide as a wedding destination, with more than 3.200 international weddings held in 2024, more than 40 nationalities choosing our country and an estimated economic impact of 2.100 million euros. The association also notes a growth of 62 % over the last three years. A particularly attractive segment due to the high expenditure associated with this type of travel and celebration, which can range between 80.000 and 250.000 euros on average, reaching figures of over 500.000 euros in certain premium destination weddings. “Spain has all the ingredients to become one of the great world leaders in wedding tourism: climate, heritage, gastronomy, culture, connectivity, diversity of destinations and, above all, professionals with an enormous level of experience and creativity,” points out Andrés Parro, president of the SWTA. “What we need now is to work together, speak with one voice and get institutions to understand the true scale of this sector and its capacity to generate wealth, employment and international profile for Spain.” From the wedding industry to a strategic tourism sector. One of the main objectives of the SWTA will be to connect the bridal sector with the tourism industry and public administrations, creating spaces for collaboration that allow for the development of specific strategies for wedding tourism. The association aims to become an interlocutor with public and private bodies, defending the common interests of the sector and promoting initiatives that favour its growth. Its objectives also include the internationalisation of Spanish companies, training and professionalisation, research and the generation of knowledge and the creation of new business opportunities. The creation of the SWTA also comes at a time when the international market is paying more and more attention to Spain as a wedding destination. Specialist media have recently highlighted the growth of international weddings in our country, driven by factors such as the climate, landscape diversity, heritage, gastronomy, hotel supply and connectivity. An association open to the entire wedding ecosystem. The SWTA wants to become a meeting point for a broad and diverse sector. Its community is aimed at wedding planners, hotels, resorts, country estates and event venues, photographers, florists, caterers, travel agencies, tourism companies, specialist suppliers and other professionals related to destination weddings. Its lines of action include professional networking, promotion of the sector, training, generation of knowledge, internationalisation actions and commercial missions, as well as the creation of connections between Spanish companies and international professionals. A common voice to project Spain to the world. The association was born with the conviction that Spain should not limit itself to competing for each wedding individually, but rather build a joint country strategy. While other major European destinations have spent years developing an international narrative around destination weddings, the SWTA believes it is necessary to unite the Spanish professional fabric to create a common proposal and boost the so-called Marca España Wedding. “We don't just want to attract more weddings. We want that when an international couple thinks about getting married in Europe, Spain is among their first options and that behind that choice there is a solid, professional and prepared Spanish industry,” explains Parro. The association's board of directors is made up of professionals from different areas of the sector, with the aim of building a transversal and balanced organisation. The beginning of a new stage for wedding tourism in Spain. The Spain Wedding Tourism Association is thus beginning its activity with its sights set on the long term and with the intention of adding the greatest number possible of professionals, companies and institutions. The association believes that the future of wedding tourism lies in collaboration, professionalisation, internationalisation and the ability to generate knowledge about a market that, despite its economic relevance, still does not have the sectoral recognition it deserves. The SWTA invites professionals and companies linked to wedding tourism to be part of this project from its start and contribute to building, together, a position of leadership for Spain in the international market. “Spain has the destination. We have the talent. Now we need to join together so that the world knows it.” More information: www.swta.es Spain Wedding Tourism Association (SWTA) Non-profit association CIF G26655167