Spain received during the first six months of the year about 38.2 million international tourists, 2.8% more compared to the same period of 2018, while spending increased 3.7% to 40.380 million euros. These are the main data of the surveys on Tourist Movements in Frontier (FRONTUR) and Tourism Expenditure (EGATUR) prepared by the National Institute of Statistics.
The acting Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Oliver, has expressed her satisfaction with the good data recorded in the first half of the year, “because they certify the strength of our tourism system, which maintains its growth levels in a more competitive environment, and also show the success of the policies promoted by the Government to increase the profitability of the tourist activity ”.
During the month of June, our country visited 8.8 million tourists, which represents an increase of 3.2% compared to June 2018. Its expenditure was 9.696 million euros, 3.5% more. The average daily expenditure stood at 163 euros (+ 8.2%).
Arrival of tourists
In the accumulated year, the main emitting markets were the United Kingdom, with 8.3 million international tourists, 1.4% less than the previous year; Germany, with more than 5.3 million (+ 3.4%), and France with almost 4.7 million tourists (-2.2%). Among the other countries of residence, the growth experienced by Portugal (+ 13.5%), Russia (+ 13.2%) and the United States (+ 12.8%) should be noted.
By national destinations, Catalonia was the community that received the most tourists, almost 8.9 million, representing an increase of 2.5%. It was followed by the Canary Islands (with more than 6.6 million and a decrease of 2.8%) and Andalusia (with more than 5.6 million and an increase of 6.3%). It also highlights the growth of Madrid, which increases the number of tourists received by 10.9%.
Increase in spending
From January to June, the main destination autonomous communities with the highest total expenditure were Catalonia (with 9,349 M € and an increase of 5.3%), Canary Islands (with 8,252 M €, 1.8% more than in the same period of 2018), and Andalusia (with € 5,549 million, a 2% decrease).
As for the issuing countries, the United Kingdom has the highest accumulated expenditure so far this year with € 7,747 M (+ 1%). It is followed by Germany, with € 5,313 million (+ 2.1%) and Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden – with € 3,142 million (-6.2%).