The Diplomat
Some 8.5 million international tourists traveled to Spain in the first two months of 2023, an increase of almost 50% over the same period last year.
According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), released yesterday by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Spain was visited by 4.3 million international tourists in February, 35.9% more than the same month of 2022. These travelers spent on their travel and stay 5,326 million euros, 1,551 million euros more (41.1%) than in February last year. With respect to 2019, this February’s data equaled the pre-pandemic figures (just 58,974 more tourists arrived in Spain in January 2019 than in February 2023).
Thus, in the first two months of 2023, the number of tourists visiting Spain increased by 49.1% and reached almost 8.5 million. In the same period of 2022, 5.7 million arrived. If the 2023 figure is compared with the accumulated figure for the first two months of 2019, before the pandemic, tourist arrivals are only 1.3% below.
According to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, “it is being an exceptional start to the year for tourism on the eve of Easter, in which we expect to break records for occupancy and spending”.
In terms of spending, the February 2023 figure far exceeds pre-pandemic spending as, compared to February 2019, international tourists spent 659 million euros more. Average spending per tourist this February stood at €1,233, up 3.8% year-on-year. Average daily spending grew by 19.2% to 163 euros.
In terms of duration, most tourists who traveled to Spain in February stayed between four and seven nights, with almost 2.1 million and an annual increase of 37.2%. Trips of between eight and 15 nights also experienced a sharp increase of 27.1%. In terms of purpose of travel, leisure remained the main purpose for 3.5 million tourists in February, an annual increase of 33.3%. The percentage of those traveling to our country for business increased by 65.5%.
By country, the United Kingdom continues to be the main outbound market, with 784,496 tourists and a growth this February of 35.6% over the same month in 2022. It is followed by France and Germany. France contributed 636,530 (up 23.8% in annual rate) and Germany, 509,883 (up 30.9%). Among the other countries of residence, the annual growth of tourists from the United States (93%), Italy (44%) and Switzerland (42.8%) stands out. The main countries of origin in the first two months of 2023 were the United Kingdom (over 1.5 million tourists and an annual increase of 61.9%), France (with more than 1.1 million, and an increase of 30.2%) and Germany (with 988,142 tourists, 47.2% more).
The Canary Islands was the first main destination for tourists in February, with 28.5% of the total and 1.2 million tourists, 27.1% more than a year ago. The main countries of residence of tourists arriving in this community were the United Kingdom (with 33.1% of the total) and Germany (17.1%). This was followed by Catalonia, with 21.4% and 924,464 visitors and with an intense growth compared to a year ago. This community received 49.1% more tourists in February than in the same month of 2022. As for the country of origin, 22% of visitors came from France and 8.1% from the United Kingdom. The third main destination community by number of tourists was Andalusia, with 611,588 and an annual increase of 43.9%. The United Kingdom was the main country of origin (with 19.2% of the total), followed by the Nordic countries (11.3%).
In the first two months of 2023, the communities that received the most tourists were the Canary Islands (with more than 2.4 million and an increase of 40.9% over the same period of 2022), Catalonia (with 1.7 million and an increase of 58.9%) and Andalusia (with almost 1.2 million, 58.1% more).
