28 January, 2014

By VIVA Team

Foreign tourists spent more money in Spain last year than ever before

Government figures released this week have revealed that foreign tourists to Spain spent a record €59 billion in 2013.

Compared to 2012 spending was up by 9.6 per cent, generating 10 per cent of the country’s economic activity for the year.

“Spain closed 2013 with a historic record in international tourism spending,” read a statement from Spain’s tourism ministry. As ever, it was the British tourists who spent the most, accounting for one-fifth of all expenditure – a whopping €12 billion overall…

In second place were the Germans, who spent €9.7 billion in Spain last year, while tourists from France shelled out €5.9 billion. And although comparatively the Russians’ expenditure of €2.35 billion was lower than the big three, they were the group who increased their spending by the greatest margin, splashing 29 per cent more cash last year than in 2012.

While the British custom will always be most welcomed, it was the so-called ‘pink pound’ that helped swell Spain tourism and expenditure numbers to record levels. Gay and lesbian tourists to Spain increased by an estimated 10.3 per cent last year, according to figures from the World Travel & Tourism Council and the World Tourism Organization.

Internationally, gay travellers now account for 15 per cent of global tourism spending, and 10 per cent of total traveller volume.

For Spain, the country cemented its spot as third-most popular travel destination for foreign visitors, attracting 60.6 million tourists – a record. France remained in top spot with 83 million visitors, followed by the USA, with 67 million.

“The new figures for 2013 allow our country to retake the number three position in this indicator after having overtaken China,” said Prime Minister Rajoy after the figures were published last week. “The implication for these figures are clear for everyone,” he added, alluding to the importance of Spain’s tourism industry to its wider economy.