SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE/MADRID, May 5. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Canary Islands led the recovery of foreign tourism in March with the arrival of 1.1 million visitors, 1,017.8% more than in the same month last year, which represents 29.7% of the total market, according to data published this Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics.
In addition, the archipelago was also at the forefront in spending with a total of 1,680 million, 1,042.5% more than in March 2021, with an average spending of 1,495 euros (+2.2%), at a rate of 156 euros per day (+22.2%), and with an average trip duration of 9.6 days (-16.4%).
In the first quarter of the year, the accumulated expenditure of international tourists was 4,216 million, 992.4% more than in the same month of the previous year.
There is no variation among the main issuing countries, given that the United Kingdom represents 35.1% and Germany 18.2%.
However, the Canary Islands have not yet recovered the pre-pandemic figures given that the number of visitors is 16.1% below and spending is 3.6%.
In total, Spain received the visit of 4 million international tourists in March, 720.5% more than in the same month of 2021, which means reaching 71% of those who arrived three years ago and with an average expenditure that exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
These visitor figures, which are still 1.6 million below those registered in 2019, allowed a spending figure of 5,069 million euros to be reached last month, which represents an increase of 832% compared to the same month of 2021.
With this new rise in March, both in the arrival of international visitors and spending, a total of ten consecutive months of year-on-year increases have been accumulated.
The United Kingdom was the main issuing country, with a total of 826,399 tourists, and an increase of 4,084.7% compared to March 2021; Germany and France were the following countries that sent the most tourists to Spain: Germany contributed 608,803 (482.2% more in annual rate) and France 456,592 (332% more).
Among the rest of the countries of residence, the annual growth of tourists from Ireland (2,593.7%), the United States (1,976.5%) and the Nordic countries (1,292.8%) stand out.
“THE RECOVERY CONTINUES TO CONSOLIDATE”
“Month after month, the recovery in tourism continues to consolidate. Spain closes its first quarter of 2022 with good data on international tourist arrivals and tourist spending, a trend that we hope will intensify in the summer period,” said the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto.
In the first three months of 2022, the number of tourists who visited Spain increased by 696.7%, reaching almost 9.7 million. In the same period of 2021, 1.2 million arrived.
The main issuing countries in the first quarter were the United Kingdom (with nearly 1.8 million tourists and an annual increase of 2,981.7%), France (with more than 1.3 million, 342.3% more) and Germany (with almost 1.3 million, 565.1% more).
The Canary Islands were the main destination for tourists arriving in Spain in March, receiving 27.9% of the total, followed by Catalonia (17.5%) and Andalusia (15.1%).
The number of tourists who visited Catalonia increased by 722% and stands at 703,849. 20.2% comes from France and 19.5% from the rest of Europe.
The third community of main destination by number of tourists was Andalusia, with 609,437 and an annual increase of 1,093.8%. The United Kingdom was also the main country of origin (24.9%), followed by Germany (10.6%).
In the accumulated of the first three months of 2022, the communities that received the most tourists were the Canary Islands (with almost 2.9 million, 990.9% more than in 2021), Catalonia (with almost 1.8 million and an increase of 692 .7%) and Andalusia (with almost 1.4 million, 948.7% more).
The airport route is the one that served as the entrance to the largest number of tourists in March, with 3.5 million, which represents an annual increase of 961.6%. 832.6% more tourists arrive by port, 214.3% more by road and 56.9% more by rail.
The number of tourists who used market accommodation as their main mode of accommodation increased by 772.7% in the annual rate. Hotel accommodation grew by 754.1% and rental housing by 1,369%. For its part, non-market accommodation increased by 562%. Tourists staying in the homes of relatives or friends grew by 783.3% and those staying in owned homes by 386.7%.
Leisure, recreation and vacations were the main reason for traveling to Spain for nearly 3.4 million tourists, which represents an annual increase of 1,152.4%. For business or professional reasons, another 365,940 arrived (172.3% more).
The majority length of stay in March is between four and seven nights, with 1.9 million tourists and an annual increase of 1,017.9%. The number of visitors grew by 170.3% among those who did not spend the night (excursionists) and 328.7% among tourists with longer stays (more than 15 nights).
In March, 3.2 million tourists traveled without a tourist package, which represents an annual increase of 621.3%. Almost 868,513 million arrived with a tourist package, 1,544.1% more.
AVERAGE SPENDING EXCEEDS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS
The total expenditure of international tourists who visited Spain in March reached 5,069 million euros, which represents an increase of 832% compared to the same month in 2021. This means reaching 84% of pre-pandemic levels.
The average expenditure per tourist stood at 1,257 euros, with an annual increase of 13.6%. For its part, the average daily expenditure grew by 20.4%, to 157 euros.
The average duration of the trips was about 8 days, 0.5 days less than in March 2021.
During the first three months of 2022, the total expenditure of international tourists increased by 794.5% compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching 11,853 million euros.
The main countries by level of spending in March were the United Kingdom (with 20% of the total), Germany (15.2%) and the Nordic countries (8.7%). Spending by tourists residing in the United Kingdom increased by 3,576.3% in the annual rate, that of those from Germany by 553.7% and that of those from the Nordic countries by 1,518.4%.
In the first three months of 2022, the United Kingdom was the country with the highest accumulated spending (18% of the total). They are followed by Germany (14%) and the Nordic countries (9.1%)
The autonomous communities with the greatest weight in tourist spending in March were the Canary Islands (with 33.1% of the total), Andalusia (14.8%) and Catalonia (14.5%).
In the first three months of 2022, the main destination communities with the highest accumulated spending were the Canary Islands (with 35.6% of the total), Catalonia (14.8%) and Andalusia (13.5%).
Spending on activities is the main item in March, with 21.2% of total spending and an increase of 774.3% compared to the same month in 2021. The following items were spending on international transport and spending on accommodation , with 19.2% and 18% of the total, respectively.
59.9% of total spending in March was made by tourists who stayed overnight in hotel accommodation, with an annual increase of 833.1%. For its part, spending on non-market accommodation grew by 607.1%.
The expenditure of tourists who do not travel with a tourist package (which represents 78.1% of the total) increased by 721.8% in the annual rate. That of those who hire a tourist package increased by 1,688.6%.
As for the reason for the trip, tourists who visited Spain for leisure generated 83.7% of total spending (with a disbursement 1,222.6% higher than in March 2021).
