Spain received during the first eight months of the year about 58.2 million international tourists, 1.5% more compared to the same period of 2018, while spending increased 3.2% to 64,124 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.
During the month of August, 10.1 million tourists visited our country, which represents a 0.5% decrease compared to August 2018. Its expenditure was 11,765 million euros, 2.7% more. The average daily expenditure stood at 146 euros (+ 4.7%).
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Oliver, has been very satisfied with the figures registered until the month of August, “especially as regards tourism spending that is more than double that of arrivals. The figures for August are very significant, when with 0.5% fewer visitors, spending has increased 2.7%. This is the unequivocal symptom that the profitability of the sector is improving and with it its competitive capacity ”.
Arrival of tourists
In the accumulated year, the main emitting markets were the United Kingdom, with about 12.7 million international tourists, 1.8% less than the previous year; France, with more than 8.1 million (-2.1%), and Germany with more than 7.7 million tourists, a figure very similar to that of 2018. Among the other countries of residence it is worth noting the growth experienced by the United States (+ 13.6%), Russia (+ 9%) and Portugal (+ 8.4%).
By national destinations, Catalonia was the community that received more tourists, more than 13.6 million, which represents an increase of 0.7%. It was followed by the Balearic Islands (with more than 10.1 million and a 0.2% decrease) and the Canary Islands (with almost 8.7 million, 3.7% less). It also highlights the growth of Madrid, which increases 9.2% in the number of tourists received (more than 5 million).
Increase in spending
From January to August, the main destination autonomous communities with the highest total expenditure were Catalonia (with € 15,129 M and an increase of 4.3%), Canary Islands (with € 11,238 M, 0.8% more than in the same period of 2018), and the Balearic Islands (with € 11,112 million, an increase of 1.8%).
As for the issuing countries, the United Kingdom has the highest accumulated expenditure so far this year with € 12,732 M (+ 1.3%). It is followed by Germany, with € 8,018 M (-0.6%) and France, with € 5,611 M (+ 2.4%).