Britons’ Spain spending on the up

Brits spent a total of €1.46bn in Spain in 2012 – a 12 per cent increase on 2011.

The figures, which were compiled by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, are likely to be well received by the Spanish government, who are keen to keep British tourists onside as Spain’s recession enters its fourth year.

They needn’t worry. After Spain, the second-place country for Britons’ expenditure was France, coming in a fair way behind – Brits spent just €515 million in France in 2012, which did, however, represent a 16.6 per cent increase on 2011 levels…

Visitors from Scandinavia have had their collective heads turned by Spain, too, with tourist numbers from the Nordic countries increasing by 17.5 per cent in the past 12 months. In general, the average daily spend by all visitors to Spain in 2012 was €76.3, which is an increase of 8.9 per cent in 12 months.

For those hoping to buy a holiday home to rent out in Spain, there was further good news. The average stay in Spain has increased to 12 days per visitor, and is even higher in some places of the Costa del Sol.

Spain is also set to benefit from a wider choice of low-cost air routes from the UK in Spring, too, easing access for sun-starved Brits in search of some Spanish warmth.

Such encouraging news comes at a time when Spain’s stormy economic climate has steadied slightly, with the government’s careful reforms drawing praise from foreign economists. While job figures could be better, at least Spain’s tourist resorts can look ahead to Spring with a, well, spring in their step – Northern Europeans’ appetite for the warmth and wonder of southern Spain is stronger than ever.

Conversely, Spain’s outbound tourism receded in 2012. Figures from Spanish marketing firm Interface Tourism show that 5.6 per cent fewer Spaniards booked foreign trips in 2012.