Tourists spent €34 billion between January and July

FOREIGN tourists in Spain spent a whopping €34 billion between January and July.

This represents a 7 per cent increase in tourist expenditure when compared to the same seven-month period in 2013. However, the increment is being attributed to a surge in the influx of tourists from overseas and not to an increase in the average amount of money spent by every individual tourist.

Furthermore, foreign visitors spent as much as €8 billion in July alone, a 4.5 per cent increase when compared to July 2013.

According to a recent survey on international tourism expenditures conducted by the Industry, Energy and Tourism Ministry, foreign visitors spent on average €104 per day, 0.2 per cent less than in 2013. In addition, every tourist spent an average €983 during their stay, 1.3 per cent less than last year.

British tourists were among the biggest spenders in Spain between January and July with €6.8 billion, followed by German tourists (€5.4 billion), Nordic visitors (€3.6 billion) and the French with €3.2 billion.

Tourists in Catalonia are estimated to have spent €8 billion, especially visitors from the Netherlands and Germany. However, their average daily expenditure dropped by 0.7 and 0.4 per cent respectively. Catalonia was closely followed by the Canary Islands with the estimated tourist expenditure adding up to €7 billion.

On the other hand, the sharpest decreases in tourist expenditures were registered on the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community, with tourists spending 4.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent less than last year respectively.