International Tourists Add $80 Billion into Spanish Economy

International tourists spent an impressive $79.28 billion in Spain between January and July 2024, up 18.6% from the same time last year, the European Union’s European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) said in a latest report.

This surge in spending grows faster than the increase in visitor numbers, indicating that tourists are not just returning but also spending more during their trips. In July this year alone, 10.9 million tourists arrived, a 7.3% increase compared with July 2023.

In an update, Spain’s Industry and Tourism Ministry said that Spain has received 71.2 million international air travellers between January and August in 2024, 11.9% up on 2023. The highest increase was recorded in the Region of Valencia with a 13.1% rise; the lowest in the Canary Islands with 9.8% and Balearic Islands with 6%.

ETIAS said that the significant rise in international tourism to Spain highlights a strong recovery for both the sector and the broader economy. With spending growing faster than visitor numbers, the industry seems to be drawing higher-value tourists, potentially leading to more sustainable growth.

“Managing this growth sustainably presents challenges, such as ensuring the benefits reach different regions and balancing the needs of tourists with those of local communities,” the report said.

Spain’s Minister for Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu i Boher said that the significant increase in spending by international travellers visiting Spain has confirmed that tourism continued to drive the country’s economy, generating wealth and employment in the sector.

The average spending per traveller rose to $1598.90, up 4.3% from last year. Daily spending per tourist increased to $217.73, reflecting a 2.1% rise compared to the previous year.

The increase in average spending and longer stays suggests that Spain is attracting higher-value tourists, which could contribute to more sustainable growth in the tourism sector, the report said.

Top source of Tourists

The UK remains Spain’s top source of tourists, with two million visitors in July, up 2.5% from 2023, followed by France (1.6 million) and Germany (1.2 million) tourists respectively.

Asian tourists saw the highest growth, with an 11.5% year-on-year increase in July. The US also experienced notable growth, with visitor numbers rising by 11.3% compared to the same period last year.

In terms of spending, UK visitors led the pack, contributing $3.18 billion in July, a 10.27% increase. German tourists followed, spending $1.87 billion, an impressive 16.74% rise, while those from France spent $1.67 billion, showing a modest 1.4% increase.

In July, the Balearic Islands topped the list as the most popular destination, drawing 23.4% of all visitors. Catalonia followed with 22.1%, while Valencia welcomed 13.6% of international tourists, ETIAS said.

From January to July, Catalonia led the way with 11.5 million visitors, up 10.5% from 2023 while the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands tied for second, each receiving 8.7 million tourists.

Air Travel Boost Tourism

According to the report, July 2024 saw over 11 million international air passengers arrive in Spain, an 8.6% increase from the previous year, continuing the growth trend from earlier in the year. Of these arrivals, 56.6% were from the EU, reflecting a 9.7% increase, while non-EU arrivals rose by 7.2%.

Low Cost Airlines (LCAs) played a key role factor in bringing tourists to Spain. In fact, 80.8% of British travellers and 81.2% of Italian visitors opted for budget airlines. This preference for affordable travel options likely plays a role in the overall rise in both tourist numbers and spending.