SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE/MADRID, 2 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
During the initial seven months of the year, the Canary Islands welcomed a total of 8,699,875 international tourists, marking a 14.4% increase compared to the same timeframe the previous year, along with a cumulative expenditure of 13,025 million euros, also up by 14.4%, according to statistics released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) this Monday.
Each visitor spent an average of 1,497 euros up to July (+3.75%), at a daily rate of 180 euros, which reflects a 6.9% increase, with an average stay lasting 8.3 days (-3%).
The archipelago ranked as the third autonomous community in terms of foreign tourist arrivals through July, following Catalonia (11.5 million, a 10.5% rise compared to the same period in 2023) and the Balearic Islands (8.7 million, showing a growth of 7%).
In July alone, the islands attracted 1.1 million international visitors, an increase of 8.5%.
On a national scale, international tourist arrivals in Spain hit a record high in the first seven months of 2024, totalling nearly 53.4 million, which signifies a 12% rise from the previous year.
The INE further indicates that expenditure by these tourists surged nearly 20% until July, amounting to 71.1 billion euros.
The summer season has delivered unprecedented figures in tourist numbers for Spain, as anticipated, with 10.9 million international tourists arriving last July, an increase of 7.3% compared to the same month in 2023.
The United Kingdom was the primary source of visitors to Spain, contributing over 2 million tourists, 2.6% more than in July of the prior year. France sent 1.6 million (up by 3.4%), while Germany supplied 1.2 million tourists (an increase of 6.6%).
To date this year, the leading source countries have been the United Kingdom (over 10.5 million, a rise of 8.6%), France (nearly 7.1 million, an increase of 10.6%), and Germany (more than 6.8 million, 10.1% higher).
Indications reveal that in July, the Balearic Islands were the preferred choice for those visiting Spain, accounting for 23.4% of the total. This was followed by Catalonia (22.1%) and the Valencian Community (13.6%).
Visitor numbers to the Balearic Islands were up by 4.3% compared to July 2023. The tourist influx in Catalonia increased by 3.7%, while the Valencian Community observed a 10.8% rise, as reported by the statistical institute.
Statistics on tourist movements at borders (Frontur) also reveal that the number of tourists selecting hotel accommodations during their stay in Spain increased by 4%, and those opting for rental housing rose by 19.5%.
The majority of visitors stayed for between four and seven nights, totalling almost 5.2 million, reflecting an annual increase of 7.5%. Over 8 million tourists travelled without a package tour in July, which shows a 5.5% increase, while more than 2.8 million arrived with a package tour, a rise of 12.7%.
Expenditure rises by 12% in July
This remarkable influx of tourists is accompanied by exceptionally high spending levels. The total expenditure attributed to international tourists visiting Spain in the first summer month reached 15.535 billion euros, representing an 11.9% rise from July 2023.
The average spending per tourist was 1,432 euros, reflecting an annual increase of 4.3%. Meanwhile, the average daily expenditure grew by 2.1%, amounting to 195 euros.
The leading source countries for spending in July were the United Kingdom (18.3% of the total), Germany (10.8%), and France (9.6%). Expenditure by British tourists rose by 10.3% year-on-year, while German tourists increased their spending by 16.7%, and French tourists spent 1.5% more.
According to the INE (Egatur) tourist expenditure survey, during the first seven months of 2024, the United Kingdom emerged as the country with the highest cumulative expenditure (17.9% of the total), followed by Germany (12.2%) and France (8%).
The autonomous communities that recorded the highest levels of tourist spending in July included the Balearic Islands (24.4% of the total), Catalonia (20.1%), and the Valencian Community (13.3%). Tourist spending escalated by 16.2% year-on-year in the Balearic Islands, 2.1% in Catalonia, and 20.1% in the Valencian Community, according to the INE.
In the first seven months of 2024, the regions with the highest accumulated expenditure were Catalonia (18.9% of the total), the Canary Islands (18.3%), and the Balearic Islands (15.6%).
Accommodation spending represented the primary category in July, claiming 20% of total expenditure and a boost of 11% compared to the same month in the previous year. Following that, spending on international transport (not included in package tours) and on activities accounted for 18.6% and 18.3%, respectively. The former rose by 5%, while the latter increased by 9.7%.
In terms of travel motivations, tourists visiting Spain for leisure accounted for 91% of total spending, with expenditures 12% higher than in July 2023.