May registers 8.2 million international tourist arrivals and €9.7 million in tourist spending

Spain was visited by 8.2 million international tourists in May, 18% more than in the same period of 2022, and 4% more than in May 2019.

Once again and for the second consecutive month, these figures are all-time records in terms of both the number of visitors and the volume of spending: €9.723 million, 21% more than a year ago and 19% more than the best pre-pandemic figure, according to Frontur and Egatur data published today by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

In the first five months of the year, Spain received almost 30 million visitors (29.2 million) representing a growth of 28% compared to last year. In the first third of the year, total spending was €35.4 million, 32% more than in the same period last year, and 16% higher than in 2019.

For the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, "We are already in the first days of a summer that will be historic for tourism in our country, and today's data on travellers and spending extend the extraordinary run of recent months: quality and competitiveness to remain world leaders".

Growth in average and daily expenditure

The average spending per tourist is currently €1,183, an annual increase of 3%. Meanwhile, the average daily spending grew by 11.6% with respect to a year ago, to €185.

Regarding the length of stay of the majority of tourists in May, it was four to seven nights, for a total of almost 4.2 million, representing an annual increase of 22.8%.

Issuing countries

The UK was the main country of residence for these tourists, with 1.8 million people, representing 22.2% of the total and an increase of 10.4% compared to May 2022.

France and Germany were the next countries with the most tourists visiting Spain. France contributed with 1.2 million tourists (24.1% more in terms of the annual rate) and Germany 1.1 million (8.7% more).

Among other countries of residence, the annual growth in the numbers of tourists from the US (38.8%), Portugal (26.2%) and Belgium (19.6%) stand out.

Main destinations

The Balearic Islands is the first main destination for tourists in May, with 21.9% of the total. In second and third places were Catalonia (21.8%) and Andalusia (14.7%).

A total of 1.8 million tourists arrived in the Balearic Islands, 10.2% more than in May 2022. The main countries of residence of tourists to the islands were Germany (with 31.3% of the total) and the UK (29%).

The number of tourists visiting Catalonia increased by 21.7% to close to 1.8 million. A total of 21.9% of these came from France and 11% from the US.

The third main destination by community according to the number of tourists was Andalusia, with 1.2 million and an annual increase of 16.5%. The UK was the main country of origin (with 25.5% of the total), followed by France (11.4%).

In the rest of the autonomous communities, the number of tourists increased by 26.3 % in the Community of Valencia, 23.3 % in the Community of Madrid and 9.7 % in the Canary Islands.

In the first five months of 2023, the communities that received the most tourists were Catalonia (with almost 6.1 million and an increase of 37.5% compared with the same period in 2022), the Canary Islands (with almost 5.9 million and an increase of 21%) and Andalusia (with more than 4.4 million, an increase of 31%).

Non official translation