Else Beekman
In the first quarter of 2024, expenditure by foreign tourists in Spain was almost a quarter higher than in the same period the year before.
Spain continues to grow as a tourist attraction. Not only are more and more international travellers visiting the country, they are also spending more. In the first four months of 2024, tourists spent 22.6% more, worth €31.5 billion, than in the same period in 2023. British and German tourists in particular spent significantly more, about €10 more per day. Although spending by tourists from other countries is also increasing, British and German visitors remain one of the main sources of tourism income for Spain.
Record number of tourists
According to recent data from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE), Spanish tourism figures reached record highs in April, with 7.8 million foreign tourists leaving €9.5 billion in the country. This is an increase of 8.3% and 13.1% respectively compared to April 2023. In the first four months of 2024, Spain received almost 24 million international visitors, which represents an increase of 14.5% compared to the same period last year.
The numbers have never been this high since the start of official registrations. According to the Spanish Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, this indicates that Spain stands out as a quality tourist destination. He states: “Rising spending shows that international tourists are showing increasing interest in innovative holiday options that focus on issues such as sustainability and digitalization.”
British and German tourists
British and German tourists contributed most to the growth, with 4.4 million and 3.2 million visitors respectively to April, spending more than the previous year. Brits spent an average of €163 per day, €11 more than in 2023, while German tourists increased their daily spending by €9 to €154. Other international tourists also showed an increase, both with more visitors and higher expenditure per day. French people spent an average of €116, €4 more than last year, and Italians €141 per day, an increase of 3.1%.
Visitor figures per region
In the first quarter of 2024, the Canary Islands were the most visited region with 5.5 million visitors. That is a growth of 11.4% compared to the same period in 2023. Catalonia followed with 5 million tourists and a growth of 16.3% and then Andalucia with 3.6 million tourists, an increase of 13.5%.
Also read: This is how tourism in Spain is changing