Almost 1.8 million foreign tourists visit Catalonia in May, 2.2% fewer than in 2019

A total of 1,794,417 foreign tourists visited Catalonia in May, 21.7% more than the same period last year (1,474,935) and only 2.2% below the pre-pandemic figure for May 2019 (1,835,129), according to provisional data from the INE, Spain's statistics institute. 

Catalonia was the second favorite destination in Spain for international visitors with a share of 21.8%, just behind the Balearic Islands (21.9%). 

Spending by foreign tourists in May soared to €2.033bn, up 36.8% year-on-year. On average, each person spent €222 per day, €20 more than a year ago and €10 more than in 2019. 

Top destination 

So far this year, up until the end of May, Catalonia has proved to be the top destination in Spain for international tourists, welcoming almost 6.1 million visitors, 37.5% more than a year ago. 

The figure remains slightly below the 6.7 million tourists who visited in the first five months of 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In May, more tourists visited Catalonia from France (21.9%) than from any other country, followed by the United States (11%). 

Tourist spending grows 

Data shows that tourists spent more money than during pre-pandemic stays. Each person spent an average of €1,133 during their stay, up from €1,090 in 2019, but it must be taken into account that inflation has seen the price of some products and services increase significantly. 

Transport was the main expense, followed by activities and accommodation. The average duration of trips in May was 5.1 days, with overnight stays climbing to 9.1 million, up 24.4% year-on-year. 

Catalonia stood out as the autonomous community where tourists spent most money.