The data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) revealed that in May, Spain experienced a significant surge in international tourism, with 8.2 million visitors, marking an 18 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2022 and a four per cent increase compared to May 2019.
These figures represent a historical record in terms of both visitor numbers and spending, with a total expenditure of €9.73 million. This marks a 21 per cent increase from the previous year and a 19 per cent increase compared to the pre-pandemic levels, Monte OZ reports.
Over the first five months of the year, Spain welcomed a total of 29.2 million, demonstrating a remarkable 28 per cent growth compared to the same period last year. During this period, the total spending amounted to €35.4 million, reflecting a 32 per cent increase from the previous year and a 16 per cent increase compared to 2019.
According to INE figures, during May, the average expenditure per tourist in Spain reached €1,183 – a three per cent increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, the average daily spending rose by 11.6 per cent to €185, indicating higher expenditure per day among tourists.
Furthermore, data show that most tourists stayed in Spain for four to seven nights, with over 4.2 million travellers in this duration category. This represents a significant annual increase of 22.8 per cent in the length of stay, highlighting the preference for longer trips among travellers visiting Spain in May.
UK Tops the List as Main Source Country for Tourists
During May 2023, the United Kingdom remained the leading source country for tourists visiting Spain, with over 1.8 million visitors.
Data provided by INE shows that such a large number of tourists represents 22.2 per cent of the total tourist arrivals and, at the same time, reflects a 10.4 per cent increase compared to May 2022.
Following the UK, France and Germany are major countries contributing to Spain’s tourism sector.
France accounted for 1.2 million visitors, representing a significant annual growth rate of 24.1 per cent. Germany followed with nearly 1.1 million tourists, representing an 8.7 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
In addition to the above mentioned, there are notable annual growth rates in tourists from other nations too.
The United States witnessed a remarkable increase of 38.8 per cent in visitors to Spain. Portugal showed a growth rate of 26.2 per cent, and Belgium contributed to the growth with a 19.6 per cent increase in tourist arrivals.
Balearic Islands Attracted Highest Number of Tourists in May 2023
In May of this year, the Balearic Islands was the top tourist destination, accounting for 21.9 per cent of the total arrivals.
Catalonia closely followed with 21.8 per cent, and Andalusia ranked in third place with 14.7 per cent.
Data show that the Balearic Islands welcomed 1.8 million tourists – a 10.2 per cent increase compared to May 2022. Among the visitors to the Balearic Islands, the leading countries of origin were Germany (31.3 per cent of the total) and the UK (29.0 per cent).
Catalonia experienced a significant growth in tourist arrivals, with almost 1.8 million visitors, representing a 21.7 per cent increase. Among the tourists visiting Catalonia, 21.9 per cent came from France, and 11.0 per cent came from the United States.
Andalusia ranked as the third most visited community, receiving over 1.2 million tourists, indicating a 16.5 per cent increase compared to last year. The UK was the main country of origin for tourists to Andalusia, accounting for 25.5 per cent of the total, followed by France at 11.4 per cent.
Other regions also registered a notable growth in tourist numbers, with a 26.3 per cent increase in the Comunitat Valenciana, a 23.3 per cent increase in the Comunidad de Madrid, and a 9.7 per cent increase in the Canary Islands.
According to the data for the first five months of 2023, Catalonia received the highest number of tourists, with almost 6.1 million, which is 37.5 per cent more than in the same period in 2022.
The Canary Islands followed closely with nearly 5.9 million tourists, showing a 21.0 per cent increase. Andalusia received almost 4.4 million visitors, representing a substantial growth of 31.7 per cent.
