Tourism up by 50% in first two months of 2023

Spain welcomed 4.3 million international tourists in February, 35.9% more than the same month of 2022. These travellers spent 5,3 billion euro on their travel and stay, 1,5 billion euro more (41.1 %) than in February last year, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

With respect to 2019, the data for this month of February equals the pre-pandemic figures (in January 2019 just 58,974 more tourists arrived in Spain than in February 2023).

In this way, in the first two months of 2023 the number of tourists visiting Spain increases by 49.1% and is close to 8.5 million. In the same period of 2022, 5.7 million arrived. If the figure for 2023 is compared with the accumulated figure for the first two months of 2019, before the pandemic, the arrival of tourists is only 1.3% below.

For the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, “it is proving to be an exceptional start to the year for tourism, at the gates of Easter in which we expect occupancy and spending records to be broken.”

In terms of spending, the figure for February 2023 far exceeds pre-pandemic spending: compared to February 2019, international tourists have spent 659 million euro more, no doubt brought on by higher prices not giving those tourists much option other than to spend more.

Average cost and stay

The average cost per tourist this February stands at 1,233 euro, with an annual increase of 3.8%. For its part, average daily spending grew by 19.2%, to 163 euro.

Regarding the duration of the majority stay among tourists in February, it is from four to seven nights, with almost 2.1 million and an annual increase of 37.2%. Trips between eight and 15 nights have also experienced a strong increase of 27.1%.

As for the reason for the trip, leisure continued to be the main purpose for 3.5 million tourists in February, representing an annual increase of 33.3%. The percentage of those who travel to our country for business increases by 65.5%.

United Kingdom, 1.5 million in two months

By country, the United Kingdom continues to lead the issuing market, with 784,496 tourists and growth this February of 35.6% compared to the same month in 2022.

France and Germany also continue as the next countries in volume of visits. France contributed 636,530 (23.8% more in annual rate) and Germany 509,883 (30.9% more).

Among the rest of the countries of residence, it is worth noting the annual growth of tourists from the United States (93%), Italy (44%) and Switzerland (42.8%).

The main issuing countries in the first two months of 2023 are the United Kingdom (over 1.5 million tourists and an annual increase of 61.9%), France (with more than 1.1 million, and an increase of 30.2%) and Germany (with 988,142 tourists, 47.2% more).

Strong rise in Catalonia

The Canary Islands, the first main tourist destination in February -with 28.5% of the total- received 1.2 million tourists, 27.1% more than a year ago. The main countries of residence of the tourists who come to this community are the United Kingdom (with 33.1% of the total) and Germany (17.1%).

After the Canary Islands, Catalonia, with 21.4%, is the second community in number of international tourists received in February (924,464 visitors), and has experienced intense growth compared to a year ago. 49.1% more tourists arrived in Catalonia in February than in the same month of 2022. Regarding the country of origin, 22% of the visitors come from France and 8.1% from the United Kingdom.

The third main destination community by number of tourists is Andalusia, with 611,588 and an annual increase of 43.9%. The United Kingdom is the main country of origin (with 19.2% of the total), followed by the Nordic countries (11.3%).

In the accumulated of the first two months of 2023, the communities that receive the most tourists are the Canary Islands (with more than 2.4 million and an increase of 40.9% compared to the same period in 2022), Catalonia (with 1.7 million and an increase of 58.9%) and Andalucía (with almost 1.2 million, 58.1% more).

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