SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE / MADRID, Oct 4 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The arrival of international tourists has not recovered and accumulates a 45.5% drop in the Canary Islands in the first eight months of the year compared to the same period of the previous year, to add a total of 1,737,038 visitors.
In addition, accumulated spending also falls by 39.1%, to 2.483 million, according to data published this Monday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
If the figures for the month of August are analyzed, the beginning of the recovery in the subsector is noticed, with a growth of 136.5% over the same month last year and a total sum of 569,207 visitors, while spending, with 818 million, increased by more than 139%.
International tourists spend an average of 1,430 euros in the first eight months of the year, 11.7% more, at a rate of 151 euros per day (-0.76%), with an average duration of the trip of 9.5 days , 12.6% more.
Only in the month of August, the average expenditure of an international tourist is 1,437 euros (+ 1.42%), with 163 euros a day, 3.33% more and an average trip of 8.8 days (-1 , 85%).
By source markets, the first in the islands in August was the British with 137,175 people followed by the German, with 124,166.
In total, Spain received the visit of more than 15 million international tourists in the first eight months of the year, which is 4.2% less than in the same period of 2020, although with tourist spending that has been increased to touch the 17,000 million euros.
Specifically, the main emitting countries in the first eight months of this year were: France, with about 3.4 million tourists and an increase of 16% compared to the same period in 2020, Germany, with almost 2.6 million, and an increase of 24%, and Rest of Europe, with almost 1.6 million visitors, 17.4% more.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, highlighted that these data consolidate the trend of recovery in international tourism and confirm that Spain is perceived as a safe destination
“Our goal is to achieve greater international mobility with our main issuers and third markets and for this we are reinforcing promotional activities and the dissemination of Travel Safe, which incorporates updated data on the vaccination process that this week will exceed 80% of the population with complete guidelines, “said the minister in a statement.
Only in the month of August, Spain received the visit of 5.2 million international tourists, 112.8% more than in the same month of 2020.
France was the main country of residence, with almost 1.3 million tourists, representing 24.9% of the total and an increase of 49.1% compared to August 2020.
The United Kingdom and Germany were the next countries with the most tourists who visited Spain in August. Thus, the United Kingdom contributed 714,668 visitors, 181.1% more in the annual rate, and Germany 677,599, 128.6% more.
By communities, in the first eight months of the year, the Balearic Islands was the one that received the largest number of tourists (a total of 3.9 million, which represents 163.2% compared to the same period in 2020), Catalonia (with almost 2.9 million and a decrease of 10.7%) and the Valencian Community (with almost 2 million, 4.1% less).
Also in August, the Balearic Islands were the destination of choice for international tourists, accounting for 25.2% of the total. They are followed by Catalonia (20.7%) and the Valencian Community (14.5%).
More than 1.3 million tourists arrive to the Balearic Islands, 188.2% more than in August 2020.The main countries of residence for visitors to this community are Germany (with 319,149) and the United Kingdom (261,663).
The number of tourists who visited Catalonia increased by 134.7% and stood at 1.1 million. Of these, 411,058 come from France and 122,975 from the rest of Europe as a whole.
The third main destination community by number of tourists is the Valencian Community with 753,864 visitors and an annual increase of 75.4%. In the rest of the communities the number of tourists increased by 280.2% in Comunidad de Madrid, 136.5% in the Canary Islands and 92.1% in Andalusia.
ALMOST 4 MILLION VIA AIRPORT
The airport route is the one that served as the entrance to the largest number of tourists in August, with about 3.9 million, which represents an annual increase of 178.3%. 165.6% more tourists enter by port, 108.8% by rail and 24.7% more arrive by road.
Hotel accommodation grew 176% and rental housing 67.1%. Tourists staying in the home of family or friends increased 41.8% and those staying in home ownership by 30.3%.
The length of stay for the majority among tourists in August is four to seven nights, with almost 2.2 million visitors and an annual increase of 136.1%.
SPENDING INCREASES TO CLOSE TO 17,000 MILLION
The expenditure made by foreign tourists who visited Spain in the first eight months increased by 0.7% compared to the same period in 2020, reaching 16,898 million euros.
In August, spending reached 5,902 million euros, which represents an increase of 140.2% compared to 2020.
According to INE data, average spending per tourist stood at 1,136 euros, with an annual increase of 12.9% and average daily spending grew 14.9%, to 135 euros.
The average duration of international tourists’ trips is 8.4 days, which represents a decrease of 0.2 days compared to the August 2020 average.
The main emitting countries in terms of the level of spending in August are France (with 20.1% of the total), the United Kingdom (14.5%) and Germany (12.9%). Spending by tourists residing in France increased 86.2% in the annual rate, that of tourists from the United Kingdom by 208.9% and that of those from Germany by 133.6%.
In the first eight months of 2021, Germany is the country with the highest accumulated spending (17.1% of the total). It is followed by France (16.0%) and the United Kingdom (10.8%)
In the first eight months of 2021, the main destination autonomous communities with the highest accumulated spending were the Balearic Islands (with 27.0% of the total), Catalonia (17.1%) and the Canary Islands (14.7%).
Tourist spending increased 198.1% in the Balearic Islands compared to August 2020, 158.4% in Catalonia and 119.9% in Andalusia.
EXPENDITURE ON ACCOMMODATION CUP 22.5% OF THE TOTAL
Spending on accommodation is the main item in August, with 22.5% of total spending and an increase of 168.8% compared to the same month in 2020. The following items are spending on activities (sports, cultural) and living expenses, with 19.8% and 16.8% of the total, respectively. The first increased by 126.9% in the annual rate and the second by 130.8%.
62.7% of total spending in August is made by tourists who stay overnight in hotel accommodations, with an increase of 192.6% compared to the same month in 2020.
According to INE data, spending by tourists who do not travel with a package tour (which represents 79.8% of the total) grows by 143.6%. That of those who hire a tourist package, 127.7%.
Regarding the reason for the trip, tourists visiting Spain for leisure generate 91% of total spending (with a disbursement 141.4% higher than in August 2020).
The total number of overnight stays by international tourists in all types of accommodation (hotels, apartments, own home, family or friends’ home, rented home) exceeds 43.8 million, with an increase of 109.1%.
The Balearic Islands is the community with the most overnight stays (with more than 9.4 million, 167.2% more than in August 2020). They are followed by the Valencian Community (with 8.9 million and an increase of 73.7%) and Catalonia (with more than 7.4 million, 136.6% more).
