The Diplomat
UK has received more than two million visits from Spain since 2022, representing 87% of the levels recorded just before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest report from the British tourism authorities, released yesterday by the UK Embassy in Spain.
VisitBritain, the British National Tourist Office, has made public the results of the International Passenger Survey (IPS), carried out by the UK Office for National Statistics and whose data “show a very good scenario for Spanish tourism in Great Britain”, the Embassy pointed out.
According to this study, in addition to recovering almost the entire level of visits recorded in 2019, spending by Spaniards in the UK has reached 1.1 billion pounds in this period, which represents an increase of 8% of 2019 spending in nominal terms. Likewise, spend per night recorded a record year, at £76 per night and up 17% on 2019, while spend per visit reached £524, up 24% on pre-pandemic levels.
“These figures therefore show the rapid recovery that the Spanish market is experiencing for the British destination,” the Embassy continued. With these figures, the Spanish market ranks fifth in importance, both in terms of spending and the number of visits to the UK.
Of these total trips, 868,000 corresponded to visits to friends and relatives residing in the UK, 9% more than in 2019 and with a total expenditure of 350 million pounds, 15% more than pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, holiday visits reached 833,000, 80% of 2019 levels and a record in terms of spend of £482 million, an increase of 2% and therefore setting the best level ever. Average spend per visit also broke records, reaching £579 per visit, up 27% on 2019. Likewise, business travel regained 71% of 2019 levels, with a total of 242,000 visits and a total spend of £163 million, up 18% on 2019.
Apart from that, the average stay of the Spanish traveler in the UK reached seven nights, representing one of the longest average stays among European markets. For its part, the regional distribution also shows an increasing interest of the Spanish traveler in knowing other areas of the destination Great Britain beyond London. The capital received 30% of Spanish stays (930,000) in 2022 (compared to 41% in 2019), but the South of England was the most popular region for Spaniards, with a 26% share of stays (390,000 visits). Scotland recorded 8% of stays, 190,000.
“We are very pleased with the interest being shown by the Spanish market towards Great Britain,” said Hugh Elliott, British ambassador in Madrid. “Spain is a market of great importance to the UK, not only in terms of tourism but also in terms of personal, cultural, scientific or investment links, among many other areas,” he continued. “I am particularly pleased that Spain is one of the top destinations for my compatriots as well,” he added. “From the Embassy we will continue to work together with VisitBritain to position the UK among the favorite destinations for Spaniards, increasing visits and spending and further strengthening our relations,” he concluded.
