In August, Spain saw a record-breaking number of foreign tourists, with 10.93 million visitors, surpassing the previous record of 10.39 million set in 2017. This trend, along with the previous month of July also reaching high numbers with 10.85 million tourists, suggests that Spain may once again end the year with a new tourism record. The main question is whether the total number of tourists will be closer to 90 or 95 million, given the strong growth in business tourism in the last quarter, particularly in Madrid and Barcelona. The cumulative arrival of tourists between January and August also reached historic highs, compensating for a decline in domestic tourism due to rising prices.
All source markets for tourists saw significant growth in August, with notable increases from the United States and France. The U.S. saw a 26.2% increase in visitors, nearing 370,000 tourists, while France grew by 8.3% to 2.13 million tourists. France nearly doubled the number of tourists from Germany, which competes for the second spot as a tourist source for Spain, and surpassed the United Kingdom for the first time historically. The impact of inflation on travel decisions is most significant for British tourists, which resulted in a 5% decrease in bookings. However, the UK maintained its position as the top source of tourists in the first eight months of 2024, with 12.6 million visitors.
In terms of spending, tourist spending slowed down in August, growing by 13% to 15.363 billion euros. This figure marks a decrease from the previous eight months, where spending was increasing at rates above 20% due to the inflation caused by the conflict in Ukraine. The average daily spending per tourist increased by 8.8% to 188 euros, while the spending per stay rose by 5.3% to 1,450 euros. If this trend continues, Spain could end the year with a total spending of 130 billion euros, surpassing the previous record of 108 billion euros in 2023 and the 2019 figures by 38 billion euros.
In August, the Balearic Islands were the most visited region in Spain, attracting 2.4 million tourists, although it experienced the lowest growth rate among popular beach destinations at 3.7% compared to the same month in 2023. Catalonia followed as the second most visited region, with an annual increase of 6.2% to 2.28 million tourists. In the first eight months of 2024, Catalonia maintained its position as the top destination with 13.7 million tourists, showing a nearly 10% increase over 2023, ahead of the Balearic Islands with 11.1 million tourists. The rise in tourist numbers in these regions contributes to the overall growth of tourism in Spain.
Overall, the trend of rising tourism in Spain shows no signs of slowing down, with strong numbers of foreign visitors and increasing spending. The growth in business tourism in urban areas like Madrid and Barcelona, along with the extended summer season, are contributing factors to the record-breaking tourist numbers. As Spain continues to attract visitors from various international markets, the country is poised to maintain its position as a top tourist destination, despite challenges such as pricing issues affecting British tourists. The positive outlook for tourism in Spain signals a successful year ahead, with the potential for reaching new milestones in tourist arrivals and spending.
