For the acting Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Oliver, "this is" some very positive data that consolidate the Spanish tourism sector as strategic, for its impact on the generation of wealth and employment, and predict that the summer season has started will also be positive. "
In May, 8 million tourists visited our country, representing a decrease of 1.6% compared to the same month of 2018, although its expenditure was 8,195 million euros, 0.5% more, with the average daily expenditure 163 euros (+ 9.5%).
Arrival of tourists
In the accumulated of the year, the main emitting markets were the United Kingdom, with about 6.3 million international tourists, practically the same value as the previous year; Germany, with more than 4 million (+ 1.9%), and France with more than 3.7 million tourists (-4.6%). Among the rest of the countries of residence, it is worth mentioning the growth experienced by Russia (+ 17.1%), the United States (+ 14.1%) and Portugal (+ 12.4%).
By national destinations, Catalonia was the community that received the most tourists (more than 6.7 million), which represents an increase of 2.6%. They were followed by the Canary Islands (with almost 5.7 million) and Andalusia (with more than 4.4 million). Also noteworthy is the growth in Madrid, which increases the number of tourists received by 10.1%, exceeding 3 million.
Increase in spending
From January to May, the Autonomous Communities of main destination with the highest total expenditure were the Canary Islands (with € 7,115 million and an increase of 2.5%), Catalonia (€ 6,851 million, 5.6% more than in the same period). of 2018), and Andalusia (with 4,302 M €, a decrease of 2%).
In terms of issuing countries, the United Kingdom has the highest cumulative expense so far this year with € 5,802 million (+ 2.9%). It is followed by Germany, with € 4,008 million (+ 0.5%) and the Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden – with € 2,591 million (-6.6%).