Spain received 4.1 million international tourists in January who spent more than 5,200 million

Average daily spending increased by 19.

Spain received 4.1 million international tourists in January who spent more than 5,200 million

Average daily spending increased by 19.3% and stands at 148 euros

MADRID, 3 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Spain returns to pre-pandemic tourism figures, receiving visits from a total of 4.1 million international tourists last January, 65.8% more than the same month last year, who spent around 5,218 million euros in our country. euros, 71.1% more, according to data made public this Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

With respect to 2019, the data for this month of January equal the pre-pandemic figures (in January 2019 only 49,594 more tourists arrived in Spain than in January 2023). In terms of spending, the figure for January 2023 far exceeds pre-pandemic spending: compared to January 2019, international tourists have spent 529 million euros more.

For the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, "these extraordinary data show that tourism will be one of the driving forces of the Spanish economy this year; with figures like the ones we have seen today, we are closer to our objective: to adapt the tourism to the 21st century, enhancing its quality".

The data from the Statistics on Tourist Movements at Borders (Frontur), released this Friday, show how the United Kingdom was, once again, the country that sent the most tourists to Spain with a total of 742,212 (17.9%) of the total , doubling the figure registered in January of last year, still affected by the Omicrom variant of the coronavirus.

France and Germany were the next source countries of tourists to Spain in the first month of the year. Thus, France contributed 485,116 (39.6% more in annual rate) and Germany another 478,258 (69.6% more).

Among the rest of the countries of residence, the INE especially highlights the annual growth registered by tourists from the United States (102.8%), Italy (78.6%) and Ireland (66.1%).

The Canary Islands, a traditional European winter tourist destination, was the favorite region chosen by international tourists to enjoy Spain last January, with 29% of all visits, followed by Catalonia (19.2%) and Andalusia ( 13.8%).

More than 1.2 million foreign tourists arrived in the Canary Islands in January, 58.5% more than in January 2022. Mainly British (33.2% of the total) and Germans (18%).

In the case of Catalonia, the number of tourists who visited this region increased by 71.6%, standing at 798,331. 18.1% came from France and 10.6% from Italy.

The third community chosen by international tourists to spend the month of January was Andalusia, with 571,873 and an annual increase of 76.8%. The United Kingdom was also the main country of origin in this community (with 16.3% of the total), followed by the Nordic Countries (11.3%).

In the other communities, the number of tourists increased by 113.1% in the Community of Madrid, 71% in the Valencian Community and 54.5% in the Balearic Islands.

For another month, the airport route served as the gateway for the greatest number of tourists, receiving a total of 3.5 million visitors (73.5%). 25.8% more arrived by road, 53.6% more by rail and 139.4% more by port.

The number of tourists who used hotels or rental housing for their accommodation increased by 71.6% in the annual rate. Within this type, hotel accommodation grew by 63.2% and rental housing by 128.7%.

For its part, accommodation in owned homes or in the homes of relatives and friends also increased by 52.7%. Tourists staying in family or friends' homes grew by 61.6% and those staying in owned homes by 39.9%.

Leisure, recreation and holidays were the main reason for traveling to Spain for 3.4 million tourists (70.3% over the previous year), followed by business or other professional reasons for which 267,551 arrived (80 .4% more).

The duration of the majority stay among tourists was between four to seven nights. According to INE data, the number of visitors increased by 35.4% among those who did not stay overnight (hikers) and 29.9% among tourists with longer stays (more than 15 nights).

Regarding the modality of visits, 3.3 million tourists travel without a tourist package, which represents an annual increase of 61.7%, while another 869,860 arrived with a tourist package (83.4%).

And not only did more tourists arrive in Spain last January, but they also spent more. Thus, according to data from the Tourist Expenditure Survey (Egatur), the total expenditure made by international travelers in our country reached 5,218 million euros in the first month of the year, which represents an increase of 71.7% compared to the same month. month of 2022, when it was 3,040 million.

The most positive news is that the average expenditure per tourist continues to grow and stood at 1,258 euros, with an annual increase of 3.5%. For its part, average daily spending grew by 19.3%, to 148 euros.

The countries that spent the most in Spain last January were the United Kingdom (with 16.2% of the total), Germany (11.4%) and the Nordic countries (9.2%). According to INE data, the spending of tourists residing in the United Kingdom increased by 89.8% in the annual rate, that of those from Germany by 49.3% and that of those from the Nordic countries by 64.9%.

By items, spending on activities was the main one in January with 23.8% of the total (71.2%), followed by international transport (22% of the total) and maintenance spending (16.6% ).

Half of the spending (55%) was made by tourists who stayed in hotels (69.7%), although the spending of those who stayed at the homes of friends and relatives also grew by an outstanding 70.4%.

The data from the statistical institute also show that the spending of tourists who do not travel with a tourist package (representing 79.4% of the total) increased by 69.7% in the annual rate, while that of those who contracted a tourist package increased 79.8%.

Regarding the reason for the trip, tourists who visited Spain for leisure generated 82.4% of total spending (with a disbursement 73.2% higher than that registered in January 2022).

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