Brits lead the way as foreigners spend €63bn in Spain in 2015

Brits spent €40 million per day in Spain during the first 11 months of last year.

Not only do Brits comprise the largest group of foreign investors in Spanish property, but they are also far-and-away the biggest spenders in the country… and the gap on the rest appears to be growing.

Data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) has revealed that for the first 11 months of last year, British tourists spent €13.4 billion in Spain, more than 20% of the total €63 billion brought into the country by foreign tourists during that period…

This figure represented an 8.9% increase on average daily expenditure by Brits, who shelled out €111 per day while in Spain, which although less than the daily amount spent by German and Italian tourists (€117 per day), still ensured that British tourists cemented their position as the leading nationality in Spain when it comes to supporting its tourism industry. 

Collectively, British visitors were worth €40 million per day to the Spanish economy in the first 11 months of the year, and their total spend of €13.4 billion was way ahead of the Germans, who spent €9.3 billion, and the French, who spent €6.7 billion.

And the gap is increasing. Spending by Brits during that period in 2015 was up 10% on last year, while the Germans – in second place – spent 2% less over the same timeframe.

However, tourism spending by Italians grew the most, by 15.2%, and even the French dipped into their pockets more often last year, spending 8.5% more in 2015 than they did in 2014.

By region, Andalucía – home to the world-famous resorts of the Costa del Sol – saw total expenditure by tourists reached €9.8 billion, representing a 10.8% increase on 2014 and offering yet more proof that the region has recovered its economic mojo since the dark days of the recession.