The Diplomat
The number of international tourists who arrived in Spain reached its highest figure in the first eight months of 2024, exceeding 64.3 million, which represents an increase of 11.2% compared to the same period of the previous year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), which indicates that the spending of these tourists soared by 17.6% until August, reaching 86,471 million euros.
The summer has brought new record numbers of tourists in Spain. In the month of August alone, Spain received 10.9 million international tourists, 7.3% more than in the same month of 202, reports Europa Press.
The spending made by these tourists in the eighth month of the year reached 15.363 billion euros, with an increase of 13% compared to the same month in 2023. The average expenditure per tourist was 1,405 euros, with an annual increase of 5.3%, while the average daily expenditure grew by 8.8%, to 188 euros.
The main issuing countries in the first eight months were the United Kingdom (with nearly 12.7 million tourists and an increase of 7.8%), France (with almost 9.2 million and an increase of 10.1%) and Germany (with more than 8 million, 9.3% more).
Between January and August, the communities that received the most tourists were Catalonia (13.7 million and an increase of 9.7% compared to the same period in 2023), the Balearic Islands (11.2 million and an increase of 6.2%) and the Canary Islands (9.9 million, 10.3% more).
In August alone, the Balearic Islands were the main destination for tourists, with 22.4% of the total. They were followed by Catalonia (20.9%) and Andalusia (14.7%). 3.7% more tourists came to the Balearic Islands than in August 2023. The number of tourists visiting Catalonia increased by 6.2% and 9.3% more came to Andalusia.
Spending sources
On the spending side, the main issuing countries in terms of spending level in August were the United Kingdom (with 19.7% of the total), France (14.2%) and Germany (10.8%). Spending by tourists resident in the United Kingdom increased by 11.4% on an annual basis, that of those in France by 10.6% and that of those in Germany by 15.0%.
In the first eight months, the British country was the one with the highest cumulative spending (18.2% of the total), ahead of Germany (11.9%) and France (9.1%).
Likewise, the main destination autonomous communities with the greatest weight in tourist spending in August were the Balearic Islands (with 23.2% of the total), Catalonia (19.9%) and Andalusia (14.9%). Tourist spending increased by 9.1% year-on-year in the Balearic Islands, 8.8% in Catalonia and 15.6% in Andalusia.
In the cumulative total up to August, the leading autonomous communities in this period were Catalonia (with 19.1% of the total), the Canary Islands (17.3%) and the Balearic Islands (17%).
