Record 10.6 million inbound tourists visit Spain in first quarter of 2015, up 5.3%

Among the main emitting markets, the largest absolute increase in the period was posted by the United Kingdom (up 9.5% to 2,115,070 inbound tourists) while the largest percentage increases were posted by Italy (16.9%), Ireland (13.5%), Switzerland (12.6%) and the United States (12%).

The Balearic Islands posted the highest percentage increase between January and March (up 24.2%), followed by Andalusia (up 14.2%) and Catalonia (up 5.2%).

A total of 4.2 million inbound tourists visited Spain in March, an increase of 6.7%. The United Kingdom maintained its position as the top emitting market (up 20.3%), even though Ireland posted a higher percentage increase (30.9%). Noteworthy figures were also posted in the month by Switzerland (up 18%) and Italy (up 11.5%).

Main emitting markets

The United Kingdom was the top emitting market in the first quarter (2,115,070 inbound tourists), posted the highest percentage increase of all the main markets (up 9.5%) and accounted for 19.9% of all inbound tourists. A total of 895,571 UK tourists visited Spain in the month (again the highest increase of all the main markets, at 20.3%), accounting for 21.5% of the total. Catalonia and Andalusia were the most popular regions for these tourists.

With 1,651,665 tourists and an increase of 1.2% on the first quarter of last year, Germany was the second emitting market and accounted for 15.6% of the total. A total of 679,211 German tourists visited Spain in March, a decrease of 1.8% and accounting for 16.3% of the total. Catalonia and Andalusia were the most affected regions.

France was the origin for 1,648,203 inbound tourists visiting Spain between January and March, a decrease of 0.6% and accounting for 15.5% of the total. A total of 632,815 French tourists visited Spain in March (down 4.5%). This is viewed as a return to balance following the significant increase that took place in March of the two previous years. These tourists accounted for 15.2% of the total in the month. The Region of Madrid was the most affected.

With 1,135,164 inbound tourists and 10.7% of the total, the Nordic markets posted a downturn of 6.3% between January and March. In the month of March, 429,139 Nordic tourists visited Spain. This is a decrease of 6.5% to account for 10.3% of the total. The Canary Islands was once again the region most affected by this.

Italy was the emitting market for 639,121 inbound tourists in the quarter and posted the highest growth on the same period last year, at 16.9%. These tourists accounted for 6% of the total. In March, Italy posted outstanding growth of 11.5%. A total of 239,155 Italian tourists visited Spain, accounting for 5.8% of the total. All regions of Spain benefited from this increase, except Andalusia.
It is worth noting the strong growth in March by Ireland (up 30.9% to 68,808 tourists), Switzerland (up 18% to 104,972 tourists) and the Asian markets (up 40.9%).

Main destination autonomous regions

The Canary Islands maintained their leading position in the first quarter in terms of inbound tourists, at 3,145,140 (up 0.8%) accounting for 29.6% of the total. A total of 1,101,111 inbound tourists visited the Canary Islands in March, down 1.6% and accounting for 26.5% of the total. The growth posted by the United Kingdom and Germany was unable to offset the declines posted by the Nordic markets and the Netherlands.

A total of 2,679,883 inbound tourists visited Catalonia, an increase of 5.2% in the quarter, to 25.3% of the total. This figure stood at 1,085,206 in March, up 8% and accounting for 26.1% of the total. The increase in British, Asian and Latin American tourists was highly significant in this result.

Andalusia was visited by 1,334,454 inbound tourists to March. This 14.2% increase was the second-highest in the period and accounted for 12.6% of the total. In March, 547,353 inbound tourists visited Andalusia. This is an increase of 17.9%, the second-highest in the month. Visitors to this region accounted for 13.2% of the total, with noteworthy growth posted by the British market, followed by the Nordic, Asian and US markets.

The Region of Madrid was visited by 1,041,229 inbound tourists between January and March, up 5% and accounting for 9.8% of the total. A total of 378,135 inbound tourists visited this region in the month and the 5% increase meant the region accounted for 9.1% of the total. Noteworthy growth was posted by the Asian, Italian, British and US markets.

The Region of Valencia was the chosen destination for 931,845 inbound tourists in the period, up 2.6% on the first quarter of last year and accounting for 8.8% of the total. In March, this region was visited by 397,195 inbound tourists, up 7.4% and accounting for 9.6% of the total. The United Kingdom showed signs of recovery after some negative growth, while the French, Swiss and Belgian markets also posted positive results.

The Balearic Islands performed well in both the quarter (up 24.2%) and the month of March (up 27%), with 514,436 inbound tourists for the quarter and 284,525 for the month. These figures represent 4.8% and 6.8% of the totals, respectively. Approximately 33,000 more inbound tourists came from Germany and the United Kingdom.

Form of travel, accommodation and type of holiday

A total of 8,710,984 inbound tourists arrived by air in the quarter, 82.1% of all arrivals and up by 5.7%. In March, a total of 3,388,113 inbound tourists chose to travel by air; 81.5% of the total and an increase of 7.8%.

Road travel was the choice for 16.3% of inbound tourists (1,730,751 in total), an increase of 3.2% in the accumulated figures. Meanwhile, 701,219 inbound tourists chose this form of travel in March, an increase of 1.7%.

In the first quarter of the year, the highest increase (21.1%) corresponded to inbound tourists travelling to rented accommodation. This form of accommodation was chosen by 886,537 inbound tourists, accounting for 8.4% of the total. However, a larger number of inbound tourists (6,981,865 or 65.8% of the total) chose to stay in hotel accommodation, an increase of 5.7%.

Rented accommodation also posted a higher increase (up 16.1% and chosen by 346,611 tourists) in March compared with 2,844,293 tourists or 68.4% of the total who opted for hotel accommodation.

69.6% of inbound tourists chose to travel independently in the first quarter of the year, i.e. 7,380,468 tourists (up 6.7%). In March, 2,799,832 inbound tourists chose to travel independently, i.e. 67.4% of the total.