The total expenditure of international tourists visiting Spain in December reached 7,589 million euros, an increase of 7.0% when compared to the same month in 2023.
The average expenditure per tourist stood at 1,441 euros, with an annual increase of 5.9%. On the other hand, the average daily expenditure increased by 6.4%, up to 159 euros.
Annual variation. Percentage
The main countries of origin, in terms of level of expenditure in December were the United Kingdom (with 14.5% of the total), Germany (12.5%) and the Nordic countries (8.3%).
Expenditure by tourists from United Kingdom increased by 0.6% in the annual rate, by those from Germany by 20.4% and by those from Nordic countries by 14.1%.
Expenditure on activities was the most important item in December, with 23.8% of the total expenditure and an increase of 7.3% compared to the same month in 2023.
The following items were expenditure on international transport (not included in package tours) and accommodation, which accounted for 20.2% and 17.0% of the total, respectively. The former increased by 9.4% and the latter by 14.3%.
50.7% of the total expenditure in December was made by tourists staying at hotels, with an annual rise of 7.2%. On the other hand, expenditure on non-market accommodation decreased by 0.1%.
Expenditure by tourists not travelling with a package tour increased by 10.3% in the annual rate. For those who contracted a package tour, it decreased by 4.9%.
In terms of the reasons for travel, tourists visiting Spain for leisure generated 76.4% of the total expenditure, with a 7.2% higher outlay than in December 2023.
(*): Two main groups of accommodation are distinguished according to whether or not there has been a monetary transaction: market (paid accommodation: hotels, rental accommodation, camping, rural house and other market accommodation) or non-market (owned housing, family and friends housing and other non-market accommodation).
The Autonomous Communities of main destination with the greatest proportion of total tourist expenditure in December were Canarias (with 29.5% of the total), Cataluña (17.2%) and Comunidad de Madrid (15.2%). Tourist spending increased by 7.0% in annual rate in the Canary Islands, 6.2% in Catalonia and 8.8% in the Community of Madrid.
The total expenditure of non-resident tourists visiting Spain in 2024 came to 126,282 million euros, representing an increase of 16.1% when compared with 2023.
Millions of euros
The country accounting for the most expenditure in 2024 was the United Kingdom, with 22,602 million euros, 13.5% more than in 2023.
It was followed by Germany (with 15,527 million euros and an increase of 17.6%) and France (with 11,014 million, 13.1% more).
The autonomous communities attracting the highest total expenditure in 2024 were Cataluña (with 23,745 million, 11.8% more than in 2023), Canarias (with 22,887 million and an increase of 12.6%) and Illes Balears (with 20,052 million, 13.3% more than in 2023).
Percentage
The data published today are provisional and will be revised in March next year. All results of this operation are available on INEBase.
The main objective of the Tourist Expenditure Survey (EGATUR) is to obtain monthly information on the tourist expenditure made by non-residents in Spain in their trips to our country. In preparing it, the international definitions and recommendations of the UNWTO and EUROSTAT in this field are followed.
For more information you can access the methodology and the standardized methodological report.
INE statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Good Practice for European Statistics. More information in Quality at INE and the Code of Best Practices.
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