International tourists spend more than €99 billion up to September, 16.9% more than in the first nine months of 2023

Tourist image of Spain through its campaigns (Turespaña)

Specifically in September, the last month of the summer, 9.6 million international tourists visited our country, 9.1% more than in the same month last year, according to data published today by the National Statistics Institute (INE). In addition, in that month, foreign visitors brought in almost €12.62 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 12.7%.

In detail, and as was the case in previous months, the September tourism spending data showed improvements in average spending per traveller and average daily spending which, together with the average stay, are three very useful concepts for measuring the effectiveness of the tourism policies implemented by the ministry.

This month, every visitor spent an average of €1,315, 3.3% more than last year, and spending per day also reflected this growth, reaching €195, an increase of 3.8% year-on-year. The average stay was 6.7 days, similar to a year ago.

United Kingdom, main source market

For yet another month, the UK was the main country of residence for tourists who visited us in September, with 2 million and an increase of 5.3% compared to the same month in 2023. In September, a total of 1.3 million tourists arrived from Germany, the country that issued the second highest number of visitors (up 1.1%); and in third place was France, which sent 1.1 million tourists (up 14.3% on the same period last year).

Asia continues its upward trend as an issuer of travellers to Spain. The number of Asian tourists who visited us in September was 339,708, reflecting a year-on-year variation rate of 13%.

The main issuing countries in the first nine months of the year were the UK (with 14.7 million and an increase of 7.4%), France (with almost 10.3 million and an increase of 10.5%) and Germany (with almost 9.4 million, an increase of 8%).

In terms of tourist spending, UK nationals - those who spend the most in Spain - spent almost €2.46 billion in September, an increase of 9.3%. The second country in terms of spending was Germany, whose nationals spent €1.645 billion on their holidays in Spain. This is an increase of 8.6% compared to September 2023. In third place was France, with an expenditure of €1,018 million and a year-on-year growth of 26.1%, placing France at the head of the countries with the highest growth in September.

Catalonia, leader in arrivals so far this year

The Balearic Islands was the main destination for tourists in September, with 22.4% of the total. In second and third places were Catalonia (21.2%) and Andalusia (15%), respectively.

The Balearic Islands received 4.2% more tourists than in September 2023. The number of tourists visiting Catalonia and Andalucia increased by 11.8% and 10.3%, respectively.

In the first seven months of 2024, the communities that hosted the most tourists were Catalonia (15.8 million and an increase of 10% compared to the same period in 2023), the Balearic Islands (13.3 million and an increase of 5.9%), and the Canary Islands (11 million and an increase of 10%).

The Balearic Islands, at the forefront of spending

The autonomous communities with the greatest weight in terms of tourist spending in September were the Balearic Islands (with 21.4% of the total), Catalonia (19.6%) and Andalucia (15.0%). The annual rate of tourist spending increased 7.6% in the Balearic Islands, 15.9% in Catalonia and 16.5% in the Valencia Region.

In the first nine months of 2024, the regions with the highest cumulative expenditure were Catalonia (with 19.1% of the total), the Balearic Islands (17.5%) and the Canary Islands (16.7%).

In September, every visitor spent an average of €1,315, 3.3% more than last year, and spending per day also reflected this growth, reaching €195, an increase of 3.8% year-on-year. The average stay was 6.7 days, similar to a year ago.

United Kingdom, main source market

For yet another month, the UK was the main country of residence for tourists who visited us in September, with 2 million and an increase of 5.3% compared to the same month in 2023. In September, a total of 1.3 million tourists arrived from Germany, the country that issued the second highest number of visitors (up 1.1%); and in third place was France, which sent 1.1 million tourists (up 14.3% on the same period last year).

Asia continues its upward trend as an issuer of travellers to Spain. The number of Asian tourists who visited us in September was 339,708, reflecting a year-on-year variation rate of 13%.

The main issuing countries in the first nine months of the year were the UK (with 14.7 million and an increase of 7.4%), France (with almost 10.3 million and an increase of 10.5%) and Germany (with almost 9.4 million, an increase of 8%).

In terms of tourist spending, UK nationals - those who spend the most in Spain - spent almost €2.46 billion in September, an increase of 9.3%. The second country in terms of spending was Germany, whose nationals spent almost €1.65 billion on their holidays in Spain. This is an increase of 8.6% compared to September 2023. In third place was France, with an expenditure of €1,018 million and a year-on-year growth of 26.1%, placing France at the head of the countries with the highest growth in September.

Catalonia, leader in arrivals so far this year

The Balearic Islands was the main destination for tourists in September, with 22.4% of the total. In second and third places were Catalonia (21.2%) and Andalusia (15%), respectively.

The Balearic Islands received 4.2% more tourists than in September 2023. The number of tourists visiting Catalonia and Andalucia increased by 11.8% and 10.3%, respectively.

In the first seven months of 2024, the communities that hosted the most tourists were Catalonia (15.8 million and an increase of 10% compared to the same period in 2023), the Balearic Islands (13.3 million and an increase of 5.9%), and the Canary Islands (11 million and an increase of 10%).

The Balearic Islands, at the forefront of spending

The autonomous communities with the greatest weight in terms of tourist spending in September were the Balearic Islands (with 21.4% of the total), Catalonia (19.6%) and Andalucia (15.0%). The annual rate of tourist spending increased 7.6% in the Balearic Islands, 15.9% in Catalonia and 16.5% in the Valencia Region.

In the first nine months of 2024, the regions with the highest cumulative expenditure were Catalonia (with 19.1% of the total), the Balearic Islands (17.5%) and the Canary Islands (16.7%).

Non official translation