Spanish tourism heading for best ever year as August breaks visitor record

Record numbers of foreign tourists visited Spain in August, putting the country on course to break its annual record this year.

Figures from Spain’s Tourism Industry showed that 8.3 million foreign nationals visited Spain in August – a 7.1 per cent increase on 2012. And after a record-breaking summer, the country is set to post record figures for the 12 months of 2013…

The upswing in visitor numbers can partly be attributed to a nine per cent increase in French tourists: in August, 1.8 million French nationals visited Spain, the most ever for a single month.

Political turmoil in some of Spain’s main Mediterranean rivals – most notably in Turkey and Egypt – and the continuing doubts over Greece’s economy have also played their part in making Spain the number one tourist destination this summer.

With tourism the main pillar of Spain’s economy, the news could not be better for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Despite the unrest elsewhere, it has not been easy-going for Spain. Much-publicised economic malaise and high unemployment have created problems at home and unwanted headlines overseas, but the country’s stable political system, its swift reforms and its historical popularity have meant Spain was actually able to grow its tourism industry, rather than shed visitors. Indeed, in 2012 the sector was worth five per cent to Spain’s GDP, providing almost one million jobs.

For 2013 so far, 42.3 million foreign tourists have visited Spain, which represents a year-on-year increase of 4.5 per cent. Brits are still by far the most common nationality to be found on Spanish beaches, with more than 10 million having visited the country so far this year.

However, new markets have also had their heads turned by Spain’s charms: 1.1 million Russians have so far visited the country in 2013, which is a 30 per cent increase in just one year.

”It is very likely that 2013 will be the best year historically for tourism,” said Jose Manuel Soria, Industry Minister for Tourism. Soria added that the indications are also positive for the fourth quarter.

Tourists have so far spent a total of €40.4bn in Spain, which is up by seven per cent on last year. Yet not all in Spain are happy. Domestic travel has fallen by almost seven per cent, which has harmed those destinations that are away from the traditional tourist hotspots.

Meanwhile, the influx of wealthy Russian and Chinese tourists has helped to keep Spain’s luxury sector buoyant. “Without a doubt, Spain’s luxury sector is being kept afloat thanks to tourism, Ana Franco, editor of Spanish luxury portal Deluxes, told Reuters.