Spain received 4.1 million international tourists during the first month of the year, 1.4% less than in the same month of 2019, while its expenditure increased 2.1% to 4,779 million euros. These are data from the surveys on Tourist Movements in Frontera (FRONTUR) and Tourism Expenditure (EGATUR) prepared by the National Statistics Institute.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Oliver, highlighted “the good start of the year with a new increase in tourism spending that guarantees higher levels of profitability in the sector, which translates into better jobs. From the Government we are working closely with the other administrations and the private sector to strengthen a competitive, sustainable and profitable tourism model ”. Oliver has also referred to COVID-19 and considers that “there are no public health reasons for not traveling to Spain. They are moments to keep calm. Spain is a safe country and we have the best public health and the best health professionals ”.
Arrival of tourists
During the first month of the year, the main issuing markets were the United Kingdom, with 718,248 international tourists (11% less), Germany, with 493,711 (4.6% less), and France, with 480,364 (7.7% plus). It also highlights the increase experienced by the Netherlands (7.1% more, with 163,329 tourists).
The Canary Islands was the autonomous community that received the most international visitors, with more than 1.1 million (5% less than in 2019), followed by Catalonia, with 869,168 (4.5% less), and the Community of Madrid, with 611,422 (4.6% more).
Increase in spending
The average daily expenditure of January tourists increased by 4.3% and stood at 144 euros.
The Autonomous Communities of main destination with the highest total expenditure in January were the Canary Islands (with 1,423 million euros, 2.9% less than in the same period of 2019), Catalonia (with 904 million and a decrease of 4.2%) and the Community of Madrid (with 874 million and an increase of 13.7%). It also highlights the growth of Andalusia – 13.1% -, which reached 674 million.
As for the issuing countries, the United Kingdom has the highest expenditure and accumulates 730 million euros in the first month of the year (9.4% less). It is followed by Germany, with 570 million (3.5% more) and the Nordic countries as a whole – Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden – with 437 million (7.1% less). The expenditure of France, with 297 million euros, increases by 11.3%.
