Catalonia received 8.4 million foreign tourists in the first seven months of this year, 25.6% of all tourism to Spain

Barcelona (ACN). - Tourism figures for Catalonia continue to break records despite the economic crisis. During the first seven months of this year, 8.4 million foreign tourists visited Catalonia, representing 25.6% of Spain’s total. Furthermore, the number of international tourists from January to July represents a 8.9% increase compared to the same period last year. In addition, for the first time since 2007 more than 2 million foreign tourists have visited Catalonia during the month of July. 2,026,725 foreigners visited Catalonia, which represents an increase of 9% over the same month last year. Catalonia has therefore consolidated its position as the most visited tourist destination in Spain, with British, French and German tourists making up the majority of visitors.

According to the Border Survey of Inbound Tourism (Frontur), made public this Wednesday by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, almost 33 million foreign tourists visited Spain in the first seven months of this year, a figure 3.3% higher than during the same period in 2011.

The United Kingdom is the main tourist market accounting for 7.6 million tourists (23.4% of the total), followed by Germany with 5.3 million and France with 4.8 million. The fastest growing market in the first seven months of this year was the United States, increasing by 15.3% and reaching almost to 800,000 tourists visiting Spain

In the month of July, the number of foreign tourists who visited Spain is a new historic record with 7.7 million people, 4.4% more than during the same month in 2011. Following Catalonia, which received 26.3% of the total number of tourists, there is the Balearic Islands, which received 1.9 million tourists, 25.7% of the total.