Spain's tourism industry bounces back: Over 66.5 million visitors in nine months

HOLIDAYMAKERS from abroad visiting Spain this year are spending more money than ever, and visitor numbers have soared since last year, according to recent figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

Between January and September 2023 inclusive, a total of 66.5 million people resident abroad travelled to Spain – about one-and-a-half times the year-round population, and the equivalent of the entire headcount of the UK.

Although this represents a reduction of 0.6% on 2019 – the last year before the pandemic and still Spain's record season – foreign tourists were much more numerous than during the same nine-month period in 2022.

Year on year, a total of 18.8% more visitors from abroad came to Spain in 2023, the INE reveals.

And although numbers are slightly lower than pre-pandemic, the amount tourists spend when they travel to Spain has increased by 15.1%.

Based upon the first nine months of 2022, this represents a rise of 24% - foreign holidaymakers have brought in nearly €84.7 billion in 2023, and the year is not even over yet.

The most recent complete month for which figures are available, September, saw 8.8 million visitors to Spain from other countries, which is 0.2% lower than in the final pre-pandemic year, but 13.6% higher than in 2022.

During that month alone, visitors from abroad spent over €11.2bn, being 22.6% more than in September 2022 and 16% more than in September 2019.

Fears of the impact of Covid and Brexit on Spain's tourism industry have largely been assuaged – the expected hit to the sector has only been temporary and short term, making a full recovery within less than two years of the last State-decreed restrictions on movement.