Catalonia, the region in Spain where international tourists spend the most
Tourists from outside of Spain spent 17,328 MEUR in Catalonia in 2016, which represents 3.7% more than in 2015. According to the Tourist Expenditure Poll (Egatur), published by the Spanish Statistics Institute, Catalonia achieved its best result in the historic series and became, once again, the region which takes in the highest amount of tourist expenditure in the whole of Spain. Indeed, Catalonia was the focus of 22% of tourists’ total expenditure in Spain, followed by the Canary and the Balearic Islands. Those tourists who spent the most were the British, followed by Germans and the French, according to figures corresponding to the whole of Spain.
Barcelona (CNA).- 22% of the total expenditure made by international tourists in Spain in 2016 went to Catalonia. In particular, the tourist spent totalled 17,328 MEUR by the end of the year, which is nearly 4% more than in 2015 and represents the best figure in the historic series, according to the Tourist Expenditure Poll (Egatur), published by the Spanish Statistics Institute. Thus, Catalonia is, for yet another year, the Autonomous Community where international tourists spent the most. However, the average expenditure of each tourist in 2016 stood at 963 euros, which is slightly smaller than in the previous year (-0.28%). In the whole of Spain, international tourists spent 77,625 MEUR, which represents a 9% growth in comparison to 2015.
The second Autonomous Community where international tourists spent the most were the Canary Islands (15,136 MEUR), followed by the Balearic Islands (13,006 MEUR).
Regarding the average expenditure of each tourist in Catalonia, it stood at 963 euros in 2016, which is slightly smaller than in the previous year (-0.28%). However, in relation to the average expenditure per person and day, each visitor spent 161 euros, 12.8% more than in 2015, while the length of their trip was two days shorter than the average in Spain; six days instead of eight.
Regarding the figures corresponding to last December, international tourists spent 940 euros, 8.4% more than in 2015 and 146 euros daily per visitor, 6.3% higher than in December the previous year.
In the whole of Spain, international tourists spent 77,625 MEUR, which represents a 9% growth in comparison to 2015. Those tourists who spent the most were the British, whose expenditure totalled 16,244 MEUR, 12.8% more than in 2015, followed by the Germans (11,078 MEUR) and the French (6,849).