The Canary Islands received more than 1.2 million international tourists in the month of February, which was 27.1% more than in the same month in 2022, making it the favourite destination for foreigners, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE).
In terms of accumulated data, more than 2.4 million foreign tourists have arrived in the archipelago, an increase of 40.9 percent compared to the same period last year.
Spain as a whole was visited by 4.3 million international tourists in February, 35.9% more than in the same month in 2022, according to data from the INE, which shows that these tourists spent 41.1% more than in the same month the previous year, reaching 5,326 million euros.
Tourism in Spain is recovering strongly in the first two months of the year a total of 8.5 million visitors visited our country which represents an increase of 49.1% over the figure recorded in the same period a year earlier.
This increase in visitors was accompanied by an increase in spending. Thus, in the first two months of the year, the total expenditure of international tourists visiting Spain increased by 54.7% compared to the same period last year, reaching 10,544 million euros. Compared to 2019, this figure is 12.9% higher.
For the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, “it is an exceptional start to the year for tourism, on the eve of Easter, when we expect to break records in terms of occupancy and spending”.
The United Kingdom continues to be the country that sends most tourists to Spain, with 18.2% of the total. In February a total of 784,496 Britons arrived in Spain, an increase of 35.6% compared to February of the previous year.
France and Germany were the next countries in terms of the number of visitors. Thus, France contributed 636,530 (23.8% more in annual rate) and Germany 509,883 (30.9% more). Among the other countries of residence, the annual growth of tourists from the United States (93.0%), Italy (44.0%) and Switzerland (42.8%) stands out.
In the first two months of 2023, a total of 8.5 million people arrived in Spain, 49.1% more than in 2022 but still 1.3% below the figure recorded in the first two months of 2019, before the pandemic.
The main sending countries in the first two months of 2023 were the United Kingdom (over 1.5 million tourists and an annual increase of 61.9%), France (with over 1.1 million, and an increase of 30.2%) and Germany (with 988,142 tourists, 47.2% more).
THE CANARY ISLANDS, FAVOURITE WINTER DESTINATION
The INE data show that the Canary Islands were once again the favourite destination for international tourists, accounting for 28.5% of the total number of visitors. It is followed by Catalonia (21.4%) and Andalusia (14.2%).
More than 1.2 million tourists arrived in the Canary Islands, 27.1% more than in February 2022. The main countries of residence of tourists from this community were the United Kingdom (with 33.1% of the total) and Germany (17.1%).
The number of tourists visiting Catalonia increased by 49.3% to 924,464. 22% came from France and 8.1% from the United Kingdom.
The third community that received the most tourists was Andalusia, with 611,588 tourists 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 rest of the Communities, the number of tourists increased by 60.3% in the Community of Madrid, 22.8% in the Comunitat Valenciana and 21.5% in the Balearic Islands.
In the first two months of 2023, the communities that received the most tourists were 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 Andalusia (with almost 1.2 million, 58.1% more).
The majority of visitors arrived in Spain by air, with a total of 3.6 million (an annual increase of 38.4%). By road 23% more tourists arrived, by rail 55.1% more and by port 63% more, according to the statistics institute.
Hotel accommodation increased by 26.2% in February, while rented accommodation increased by 80.2%. The number of tourists staying with relatives or friends rose by 45.1% and those staying in rented accommodation by 35.3%.
Leisure, recreation and holidays were the main reason for 3.5 million tourists travelling to Spain in February (+33.3%), while business and other professional reasons accounted for 376,394 (up 65.5%).
INE data show that in February almost 3.4 million tourists travelled without a tourist package, representing an annual increase of 35.3%. 922,020 package tourists arrived, up 38.2%.
EXPENDITURE GREW BY ALMOST 4%
This increase in the number of tourists was accompanied by an increase in spending, which last February stood at an average of 1,233 euros, representing an annual increase of 3.8%. The average daily expenditure grew by 19.2% to 163 euros.
The average duration of trips by international tourists was 7.6 days, which is 1.1 days less than in February 2022.
So far this year, total spending by international tourists has increased by 54.7% compared to the same period last year, reaching 10,544 million euros. If this accumulated figure is compared with the data for 2019, before the pandemic, tourist spending is 12.9% higher.
The countries that spent the most in Spain were the United Kingdom (with 15.8% of the total), Germany (11.7%) and the Nordic countries (8.8%).
Spending by tourists residing in the United Kingdom increased by 25.2% in annual rate, that of those from Germany by 26.7% and that of those from the Nordic countries by 34.4%.
In the first two months of 2023, the UK was also the country with the highest cumulative expenditure (16% of the total). It was followed by Germany (11.5%) and the Nordic countries (9%).
The autonomous communities where tourists spent the most were the Canary Islands (with 33.7% of the total), Catalonia (17.5%) and the Community of Madrid (13.6%). Tourist expenditure increased by 27.6% in annual rate in the Canary Islands, by 59.3% in Catalonia and by 80.2% in Comunidad de Madrid.
Spending on activities was the main item in February, with 22.8% of total spending and an increase of 37.6% compared to the same month in 2022. This was followed by spending on international transport and spending on meals, with 22.1% and 16.2% of the total, respectively. The former increased by 72.8% in annual rate and the latter by 28.8%.
Tourists staying overnight in hotel accommodation accounted for 58.1% of total expenditure in February, with an annual increase of 40.8%. Spending in non-market accommodation grew by 27.9%.
Expenditure by tourists who did not travel with a package tour (representing 78.9% of the total) rose by 40.4% in annual terms. Spending by package tourists increased by 44%.
