The Diplomat
Spain received a total of 73.2 million international passengers in the first nine months of the year this year, which is 19.1% more than in the same period of 2022, according to data released yesterday by Turespaña showing increases of more than 10% in almost all source markets.
The acting Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, said in a press release that the diversification of source markets, “is great news for the image of a sector that is undergoing a profound revolution in terms of the quality of destinations and tourist experiences available to travellers,” reports Europa Press.
In the month of September alone, passengers arriving in Spain from international airports reached 9.6 million, 10% more than in the same month of 2022.
The main issuing countries showed notable passenger increases of more than 10% in almost all markets. Compared to the same month last year, the ones that recorded the highest growth were Poland, with 34.3%, followed by Portugal and Italy, with 18.6% and 17.7% respectively.
The United Kingdom, with 2.2 million international passengers, generated 23.4% of the total flow of arrivals to Spain in September, registering a year-on-year increase of 9.6%. The Balearic Islands received the highest flow of arrivals, 27.2%, followed by the Canary Islands, with a share of 20.7%. Green Spain (Galicia, Cantabria and Asturias) showed notable increases of more than 10%.
Passenger arrivals from Germany stood at 1.4 million (15% of the total) and increased by 10%, mainly going to the Balearic Islands (46.4% of passengers) and experiencing notable increases in the Valencian Community and Andalusia.
Italy accounted for 9.1% of the passenger flow received in September (nearly 900,000), registering a year-on-year growth of 17.7%, which particularly benefited Catalonia and the Community of Madrid. The largest year-on-year increase for these travellers was experienced by the Basque Country, with a 150% increase.
France issued 7.4% of the total number of passengers in September, showing an expansion of 10.8%, which especially favoured Catalonia and Madrid, which together received 47.2% of the total number of arrivals from France.
Ministry of Industry data released on Thursday show that 4.9% of the total number of passengers arrived from the Netherlands. This market experienced growth of 14.3% in September, with the main destinations being Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community.
Main receiving communities
Six main communities accounted for a 96.8% share of arrivals. Of note were the increases recorded in Andalusia and the Community of Valencia of 20% and 18.9% respectively this month.
The Community of Madrid recorded the highest share of arrivals in traditional airlines (41.8%), and Catalonia recorded the highest increase compared to the same month in 2022 in this category (+27.3%).
In terms of low-cost airline traffic, the Balearic Islands was the region with the highest share of arrivals (25%), followed by Catalonia (22.7%). Andalusia and the Valencian Community experienced the highest year-on-year growth, over 18%.
55.9% of the total number of passengers in September came from the European Union, an increase of 13.1%, while the flow from the rest of the world, which accounted for the remaining 44.1%, grew by 13.3%.
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport received the most arrivals in September, with 2 million, followed by Barcelona, with 1.7 million, and Palma de Mallorca, with 1.5 million. The highest year-on-year increase was at Valencia airport, with 22.8% more, and at Malaga airport, with 20.9%.
So far in 2023, Barajas airport and Barcelona airport together account for almost half of the arrivals of all Spanish airports.
