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Spain’s Record-Breaking Tourist Season
Spain is on track for a record-breaking tourist season with over 33 million international tourists visiting the country in the first five months of 2024. This represents a 13.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The National Statistics Institute (INE) reported that tourist expenditure reached over 43,200 million euros, a significant 21.8% rise from the previous year.
Leading Source Markets
The United Kingdom remains Spain’s largest source market, with more than 6.3 million British tourists visiting between January and May, marking a 10.6% increase. France and Germany follow closely, with 4.42 million and 4.41 million tourists, respectively. Notably, the Belgian and Irish markets have shown impressive growth, with increases of 20.3% and nearly 19%.
May 2024 Highlights
In May alone, Spain welcomed 9.3 million international tourists, an 11.5% increase from May 2023. These tourists spent 11,687 million euros, a 19.7% increase compared to the same month last year. On average, each visitor spent 1,263 euros, reflecting a 7.3% rise from last year, and daily expenditure increased by 8.6% to 204 euros. The average length of stay was recorded at six days.
Economic Impact and Sustainability
Jordi Hereu, Minister of Industry and Tourism, emphasized the economic impact of this growth. “The increase in average spending per visitor is remarkable, growing above inflation and contributing to the modernization, sustainability, and quality of employment in the sector,” he stated. The minister also highlighted the higher growth rates in visits to inland destinations compared to the Mediterranean and the islands.
Regional Insights
Catalonia was the top destination for tourists in May, attracting 22% of the total visitors. The Balearic Islands followed closely with 21.6%, and Andalusia with 14.6%. Catalonia saw a 5.9% increase in tourist numbers from May 2023, while the Balearic Islands and Andalusia experienced increases of 11.1% and 11.4%, respectively.
Cumulative Data for 2024
During the first five months of 2024, Catalonia received 7.1 million tourists, an increase of 13.1% compared to the same period in 2023. The Canary Islands welcomed 6.5 million tourists, up by 10.7%, and Andalusia saw 4.9 million tourists, a 12.9% rise. In terms of expenditure, the UK led with 17.1% of the total, followed by Germany with 13% and France with 7.8%.
Increased Spending by Key Markets
Spending by British tourists increased by 16.2% annually, while German and French tourists’ spending grew by 18% and 17.7%, respectively. This significant rise in expenditure from key markets underscores Spain’s attractiveness as a premier travel destination.
Government’s Commitment
Minister Hereu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainability, decentralization, and deseasonalization to maintain Spain’s top position as an international tourist destination. He emphasized ongoing efforts to modernize the tourism sector and ensure its long-term sustainability and economic contribution.
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