Spain, and the Canary Islands in particular, experienced a significant surge in international tourism during May, welcoming 8.2 million visitors, marking an 18% increase compared to the same period in 2022 and a 4% rise compared to May 2019. These figures set a new record for the second consecutive month in terms of both visitor numbers and expenditure. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), tourists spent a total of 9.73 million euros, reflecting a 21% growth from the previous year and a 19% increase from the pre-pandemic levels.
From January to May 2023, Spain received nearly 30 million arrivals (29.2 million), exhibiting a substantial growth rate of 28% compared to the previous year. During this five-month period, total expenditure amounted to 35.4 million euros, showing a 32% increase compared to the same period in 2022 and a 16% rise from 2019.
Héctor Gómez, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, expressed optimism about Spain’s tourism performance, stating that the country is on the cusp of a historic summer season. The minister emphasized the quality and competitiveness of Spain’s tourism industry, positioning the nation as a global leader.
The average expenditure per tourist in May stood at 1,183 euros, demonstrating a 3% year-on-year increase. Average daily expenditure also rose by 11.6%, reaching 185 euros.
The majority of tourists stayed in Spain for four to seven nights, with over 4.2 million visitors falling into this category, marking a significant 22.8% annual increase.
COUNTRIES FOR TRAVEL TO SPAIN, INCLUDING THE CANARY ISLANDS
The United Kingdom remained the leading country of origin for tourists, with over 1.8 million visitors, representing 22.2% of the total and a 10.4% growth compared to May 2022. France and Germany followed closely, with 1.2 million and almost 1.1 million tourists respectively, showcasing annual growth rates of 24.1% and 8.7%.
The Balearic Islands emerged as the top destination for tourists in May, accounting for 21.9% of the total, followed closely by Catalonia at 21.8% and Andalusia at 14.7%. The Balearic Islands welcomed 1.8 million visitors, a 10.2% increase from May 2022. Germany and the United Kingdom constituted the primary countries of residence for tourists visiting this region.
Catalonia experienced a 21.7% increase in tourist arrivals, with nearly 1.8 million visitors, of which 21.9% originated from France and 11.0% from the United States.
Andalusia secured the position of the third most visited region, hosting over 1.2 million tourists, reflecting a 16.5% annual growth. The United Kingdom remained the primary country of origin for Andalusian visitors, accounting for 25.5% of the total, followed by France at 11.4%.
Other regions, including the Valencian Community, the Community of Madrid, and the Canary Islands, also experienced notable increases in tourist arrivals, with growth rates of 26.3%, 23.3%, and 9.7% respectively.
During the first five months of 2023, Catalonia led as the most visited region, attracting nearly 6.1 million tourists, marking a 37.5% increase compared to the same period in 2022. The Canary Islands followed closely with almost 5.9 million visitors and a 21.0% growth rate. Andalusia secured the third position with almost 4.4 million tourists, reflecting a significant growth rate of 31.7%.
