More than 10 million international tourists visit Catalonia

Catalonia continues to be the most attractive destination for international tourists travelling to Spain. Up to 25.3% of all foreign visitors stay in Catalonia, according to figures published on Tuesday, which also show a 4.7% increase in the number of tourists between January and July 2016. The majority of international tourists staying in Catalonia are French (23.5%) and British (10.6%). In August, most regions within Catalonia have been fully booked, with figures suggesting better results than in summer 2015.

A tourist in front of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (by ACN)
A tourist in front of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (by ACN) / ACN

ACN

August 30, 2016 10:51 AM

Barcelona (CNA).- Catalonia continues to be the most attractive destination for international tourists travelling to Spain. Up to 25.3% of all foreign visitors stay in Catalonia, according to figures published on Tuesday, which also show a 4.7% increase in the number of tourists between January and July 2016. More than 10 million international tourists visited Catalonia in the first seven months of the year, 2.4 million in July alone. 

 


The majority of international tourists staying in Catalonia were French (23.5%) and British (10.6%). After Catalonia, international tourists chose the Balearic Islands (24.7%) and Andalusia (12.7%) as preferred destinations in the Spanish state.

Figures in Catalonia

In August, most regions within Catalonia were fully booked, with figures suggesting better results than in summer 2015. Rural accommodation in central Catalonia, for example, had an occupancy rate of 95%, and similar figures were registered in the Pyrenees and Lleida.

On the Costa Daurada, in the South of Catalonia, there were more than 2 million overnight stays, while in Girona, in the North, occupancy was between 85% and 95%. In the Catalan capital, Barcelona, 85% of tourist apartments were fully booked for August. Hotels in Barcelona do not yet have official figures for August, but predictions suggest an occupancy rate of more than 85%. The Catalan capital has 406 hotels with 35,934 rooms.