British Tourists Continue to Dominate Spanish Market

During July 2014, Spain welcomed more than 1.9 million UK visitors, making the UK the largest international tourism market to the country and representing 23 percent of all international tourists.

The monthly figure represented a year on year increase of 4.6 percent. In July 2014, France was the second strongest inbound tourism market to Spain, accounting for 17 percent of all international visitors, a 12.4 percent year on year increase.

In terms of tourism expenditure in Spain, July 2014 saw a total spend of €8.1 billion, up 4.5 percent year on year. The UK accounted for the largest part (19.6 percent), followed by Germany (13.1 percent) and France (10.8 percent).

Cumulatively since January 2014, Spain has welcomed over 36.3 million international tourists, a rise of seven percent year on year, including over 8.4 million UK visitors (up 5.5 percent).

Tourism expenditure in Spain from January 2014 to the end of July 2014 has also grown by seven percent to €34.5 billion, with the UK accounting for 19.7 percent (up 7.1 percent), followed by Germany (15.8 percent) and the Nordic countries (10.6 percent).

During July 2014, 75 percent of all international visitors to Spain arrived by plane (up three percent) while road access accounted for 23 percent of all arrivals, a year on year increase of 13.1 percent.

Whilst most visitors opted for hotel accommodation (57 percent) in July 2014, rented accommodation saw a year on year increase of 14.1 percent and accounted for 13.6 percent of visits.

Cumulatively since January 2014, hotels were the accommodation of choice for 64.4 percent of visitors.