The article examines the role of tourism in Spain's long-term economic growth, testing the hypothesis that tourism-driven growth has contributed significantly to the country's economic development. The study uses econometric methods to analyze the relationship between tourism and economic growth, focusing on the last three decades. The results indicate that international tourism has had a persistent and positive impact on Spain's economic growth, with multiplier effects over time. External competitiveness is also identified as a fundamental variable in long-term economic growth. The analysis shows that government policies that enhance the supply of tourism-related services and promote tourist activity can have positive effects on income. The study also highlights the importance of external competitiveness in the long-term growth of the Spanish economy. The research employs a cointegration model to examine the long-run relationship between tourism, economic growth, and the real effective exchange rate. The findings suggest that there is a unique cointegrating vector among these variables, indicating a long-run stable relationship. The results support the idea that tourism can be a significant factor in economic growth, not just in developing countries but also in industrialized ones. The study also notes the potential negative effects of increased domestic prices on welfare, which could be offset by positive impacts on overall welfare. The analysis concludes that public intervention is necessary to promote international tourism and support the development of tourism infrastructure and services. The study underscores the importance of considering external competitiveness in economic policy-making.The article examines the role of tourism in Spain's long-term economic growth, testing the hypothesis that tourism-driven growth has contributed significantly to the country's economic development. The study uses econometric methods to analyze the relationship between tourism and economic growth, focusing on the last three decades. The results indicate that international tourism has had a persistent and positive impact on Spain's economic growth, with multiplier effects over time. External competitiveness is also identified as a fundamental variable in long-term economic growth. The analysis shows that government policies that enhance the supply of tourism-related services and promote tourist activity can have positive effects on income. The study also highlights the importance of external competitiveness in the long-term growth of the Spanish economy. The research employs a cointegration model to examine the long-run relationship between tourism, economic growth, and the real effective exchange rate. The findings suggest that there is a unique cointegrating vector among these variables, indicating a long-run stable relationship. The results support the idea that tourism can be a significant factor in economic growth, not just in developing countries but also in industrialized ones. The study also notes the potential negative effects of increased domestic prices on welfare, which could be offset by positive impacts on overall welfare. The analysis concludes that public intervention is necessary to promote international tourism and support the development of tourism infrastructure and services. The study underscores the importance of considering external competitiveness in economic policy-making.