2023-09-01 16:36:47
Spain once again touches a new record for tourists three years after the pandemic abruptly paralyzed a sector that is the main engine of the economy. The country surpassed the symbolic barrier of 10 million visitors in July for the second time in history, a record that finally exceeds the level prior to covid-19. The Government launched the bells on the fly and sent a statement to the media in which it was proud that “for the first time in history” more than 10 million tourists were exceeded; but no, it is not true, since it also happened in July 2017, when about 10.5 million were registered.
Specifically, in the seventh month of the year, 10.1 million tourists visited the country, 11.4% more than in the same period of 2022 and 2.6% higher than July 2019, according to data published this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
These good numbers come to confirm that the recovery of tourism after the strong shock suffered by the pandemic is practically complete, with a record occupancy of more than 93%, which suggests the increasingly certain possibility that this year will be marked by end to a new high, despite the economic difficulties stemming from the war in Ukraine.
Because we are already very close, but so far this year Spain has not yet managed to exceed the pre-covid records. In these first seven months, more than 47.6 million people visited the country, a figure that is still 0.8% below that registered in the same period of 2019, although it has increased by 20.9% compared to last year, according to the statistics of tourist movements at borders (Frontur).
The acting Minister of Industry, Tourism and Commerce, Héctor Gómez, has no doubt that 2023 will close with “record figures”, since he advanced that they handle “very positive” data for the month of September and the remainder of the year, based on in the forecast of air seats, which are above those of 2022.
Despite having received a lower number of tourists, the impact they left on the Spanish economy has set all-time highs as spending skyrocketed in July to 13,853 million euros, representing growth of 16.4% compared to the same month last year and 16% compared to 2019. If all the money contributed by foreigners in these seven months of 2023 is accumulated, it is practically close to 60,000 million euros, a figure never seen before, which represents 25.3% more than in the same period last year and 14.7% above 2019.
Prices through the roof
It should be noted, however, that the escalation of inflation plays a leading role behind this record, which has triggered hotel prices to exorbitant levels, to the point that one night cost an average of 128.8 euros in July, well above the 102 euros that was paid the same month before the pandemic and also 6% above the 121 euros last year.
The average expenditure per tourist in the month of July stood at 1,367 euros, with an annual increase of 4.4%. For its part, daily spending also increased by 9% compared to a year ago, up to 185 euros.
The average length of trips for international tourists is 7.4 days, a figure similar to that of July 2022. The length of the majority stay among tourists in July is from four to seven nights, with more than 4, 8 million in this range, and an annual increase of 14.6%.
Strong rebound in the US
The United Kingdom, France and Germany continue to be, in that order, the main source markets for tourists to Spain. The British country contributed one in five visitors in July, with more than two million travelers, which represents an increase of 7% compared to July 2022, although still far from the pre-pandemic figures. France, however, has set a record with its 1.6 million citizens who visited our country (13.5% of the total), ousting Germany from second place, which contributed more than one million travelers.
Other European countries, such as Portugal, Italy or Belgium, are closing the gap and special mention should be made of the strong upturn in American tourists, with year-on-year growth of 28.9%.
The communities that receive the most tourists are Catalonia (with almost 10.2 million and an increase of 27% compared to the same period in 2022), the Balearic Islands (with almost 8.1 million and an increase of 9%) and the Canary Islands (with almost 7 .9 million, 16.3% more).
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