Surpassing 83.5 million visitors in pre-pandemic 2019, Spain tourism sets a new record with 85.1 million international tourists in 2023 which amounted to EUR 108.7 billion tourism receipts.

Spain received a record 85.1 million international tourists in 2023, 19 pc more than the year before.

According to the latest figures from the National Statistics Agency (INE), the number of foreign visitors in 2023 surpassed the 83.5 million who went to Spain in 2019. The United Kingdom, France and Germany emerged as the top contributors to Spain’s tourism influx during the past year.

The INE also says that Spain’s income from foreign tourists reached EUR 108.7 billion in 2023, an increase of 25 pc from the previous year. Tourism accounts for 12 pc of Spain’s gross domestic product.

The statement adds that Catalonia, including Barcelona, followed by the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands off North Africa were the top destinations. France, Spain and the United States have been the world’s three top tourist destinations for many years.

INE says that in December last year, Spain welcomed a total of 5.2 million international tourists, a substantial increase of 26.2 pc compared to the same month in 2022 and surpassing the pre-pandemic 2019 figures by 21.0 pc.

It adds that the United Kingdom emerged as the primary country of origin, contributing 907,752 tourists, representing 18.7 pc growth from December 2022. Additionally, France and Germany contributed significantly, with 819,405 tourists at 23.7 pc increase and 561,521 tourists at 23.7 pc increase, respectively.

The board says that the duration of average stay for the majority of tourists ranged from four to seven nights, totalling over 2.2 million visitors. Nonetheless, there was a 22.3 pc increase in the number of day-trippers and a 32.7 pc surge in tourists with extended stays lasting over 15 nights.

In terms of travel arrangements, almost 4.1 million tourists opted for independent travel without a tourist package in November, marking a substantial 24.8 pc increase. Conversely, over 1.1 million tourists chose a tourist package, a rise of 31.3 pc.