Tourism from India to Spain has seen significant growth, driven by a rising demand for luxury experiences, gastronomy, art, culture, and MICE
To promote Spanish capital Madrid as a tourism destination in India, Madrid’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Camara Madrid, recently organised ‘Madrid 7 Star Destination’ for travel trade and media personnel in Mumbai.
In a press statement Camara Madrid says that Madrid saw a significant surge of Indian tourist footfall with over 57,435 visitors in 2023, a growth of 73 pc over the numbers in 2022 and almost 20 pc more than in 2019. Overall Madrid received 4.4 million foreign tourists between January and June 2024.
Indian tourists spent an average of EUR 2,430 euros per person in Spain
According to the statement, the surge in Indian travellers’ footfall can be attributed to the opening of commercial flights from India at the end of March 2022, and the simplification in 2020 of visa application requirements, which reduced the processing period to four working days on average.
The statement adds that another reason behind growing interest in India for Madrid is the great success of the Bollywood film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, that was shot in Spain and released in 2011.
The statement adds that tourism from India to Spain has seen significant growth, driven by a rising demand for luxury experiences, gastronomy, art, culture, and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) travel.
These preferences align closely with what the Community of Madrid offers, making it a prime destination for Indian tourists, particularly those from the upper-middle class. This demographic is increasingly attracted to urban destinations, high-end shopping, and Spain’s appeal as a travel destination.
The statement adds that in 2023, Indian tourists spent an average of EUR 2,430 euros per person in Spain, equivalent to EUR 408 euros per day, with an average stay of six days. The total expenditure by Indian visitors reached EUR 584.8 million, marking a 67 pc increase compared to 2022 and a 48 pc rise compared to 2019.
According to a study by Oxford Economics, this upward trend in spending is expected to continue, with projected growth rates of 13.6 pc for 2024 and 12.5 pc for 2025, signalling strong demand from the Indian market in the coming years.
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