Spanish tourism spending hits 10-year high

Tourism spending in Spain has already reached a ten-year high so far this year

Foreign tourists to Spain in January and February spent more than €6bn while visiting the country – a 9.1 per cent increase on last year and the highest amount recorded for more than ten years, according to data recently released by Spain’s Industry, Energy and Tourism Ministry.

In total, almost 6.2 million overseas visitors descended on Spain during the first two months of the year, which represented an 11.2 per cent increase on 2013. Per head, however, the average tourist actually spent 2.2 per cent less this year, shelling out an average of just €108 per day, and €985 for the duration of their entire visit…

As usual, it was the Brits and Scandinavians who visited and spent most, while conversely tourists from neighbouring Portugal and France, as well as Dutch and Latin American tourists, actually dragged down the average spend.

British tourists accounted for 16.5 per cent of all foreign money spent in Spain (spending just over €1bn), with Germans in second place at 16.2 per cent (accounting for €983 million).

These figures add further credence to the claim that tourism remains Spain’s most important, money-spinning industry. With Easter looming, followed swiftly by the lengthy, profitable summer season, tourism will continue to drive the country’s economic recovery for the next six months at least.

Having already enjoyed a strong start to 2014, Spain could be looking at an extremely encouraging set of financial figures come the end of the year.