Catalonia, located in Spain, welcomed over 18 million visitors in 2023, making it the country’s most popular tourist destination. The region also generated nearly €20.9 billion in revenue, making it the destination with the highest spending in Spain. Compared to the previous year, Catalonia saw a 21.2% increase in tourist numbers and a 26.7% increase in revenue.
Following closely behind Catalonia, the Balearic Islands received over 14 million visitors, representing a 9.1% increase from the previous year. The Canary Islands, Valencia, and Madrid also saw significant numbers of visitors during the same period.
In terms of spending, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and Andalusia were among the regions in Spain that generated higher revenues in 2023, with all destinations witnessing an increase in income compared to 2022.
Overall, Spain recorded its highest figures ever in tourist arrivals and revenue in 2023. The country welcomed over 85 million tourists, representing an 18.7% increase from the previous year and 1.9% growth compared to 2019. In addition, Spain saw a record in revenues, reaching over €108 billion, surpassing 2022 levels by 24.7% and 2019 by 18.2%.
The majority of tourists that visited Spain in 2023 came from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. UK tourists spent over 19 billion euros, while French tourists spent 9.767 billion euros, and German tourists spent over 12.9 billion euros. The United States saw the highest growth in tourists visiting Spain, with a 38.7% increase compared to 2022. US citizens spent over €7.8 billion, while the number of Swiss tourists visiting Spain increased by 20%.
Regarding spending, American and Swiss tourists were noted to have high purchasing power, resulting in a significant increase in spending at the destination. The Spanish minister of tourism and industry, Jordi Hereu, highlighted the surge in spending from American and Swiss tourists, which contributes to the quality and excellence of Spain’s tourist offer.
In addition to tourism figures, Spain set a new record in passenger traffic, with 283 million travelers passing through Aena airports in Spain. More than 189.7 million passengers traveled on international flights, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
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