Organized by the Association of Spanish Schools of Andalucía, the meeting took place between April 11 and 13, with the collaboration of the Diputación de Sevilla through Prodetur. Its main objective was to strengthen commercial ties between Andalusian educational institutions and agencies specializing in language tourism, consolidating Andalucía as a leading destination for learning Spanish.
“"The province of Seville brings together all the elements to position itself as a priority destination for learning Spanish. We say this not only because of the quality of our schools or academic excellence, but because of something much deeper, such as the vital experience we offer."
Rodríguez Hans emphasized that language tourism represents a “strategic opportunity” and a “growing sector with an enormous economic impact.” He highlighted that the entire province contributes to making the stay an integral experience that enriches language learning, encouraging visitors to combine their studies with the diverse activities the region offers.
During the opening, Juan Antonio Bardón, president of EEA; Eva Laguna, president of FEDELE; and Philipp Heuri, director of Turismo Andaluz, also spoke. The MEET Andalucía 2026 program included professional meetings, presentations of educational destinations, and cultural activities, facilitating direct contact between agencies and schools.
As part of the agenda, Prodetur sponsored a visit to Bodegas Salado in Umbrete for the participants, a company integrated into the ‘Flavors of the Province of Seville’ brand. Over 80 attendees enjoyed a tour of the winery, a must tasting, and a live flamenco show.
This professional forum was held during a boom for language tourism, which has experienced growth for the fifth consecutive year. According to the latest report from the Spanish Federation of Associations of Spanish Schools for Foreigners (FEDELE), federated schools closed 2025 with a record of almost 161,000 in-person students, a figure that exceeds 168,500 when including digital programs. In the last decade, the number of students has increased by 42.5%.
The activity generated by these international Spanish students in 2025 resulted in an economic impact of almost 716 million euros in Spain. This growth is attributed to both the increase in students and the longer duration of language stays, especially for individual students, whose average stay increased from 8.3 to 11 weeks. Europe remains the main source market, with nearly 80% of students, with countries like Italy, Germany, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom standing out, and Seville being one of the most demanded Andalusian destinations.
