Foreign tourists spent €6 billion in Catalonia during the first half of 2014, 4% more than last year's same period

Barcelona (ACN).- International tourists spent €5.986 billion in Catalonia during the first six months of the year. This represents a 3.9% increase on the same period of 2013. Furthermore, it is also 22.7% of the total foreign tourist expenditure in Spain for this period. According to the Tourist Expenditure Survey (EGATUR), issued by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism on Monday, Catalonia is the second Autonomous Community where foreign visitors spent more money during the first half of 2014. The Canaries came first with an expenditure of €6.069 billion.  However, both the tourist expenditure per stay and the daily expenditure in Catalonia for the first half of 2014 fell in comparison with the same period in 2013. This year foreign tourists spent €840 per stay, 2.6% less than in 2013, and €129 per day, 1.4% less. Catalonia is also the Autonomous Community where international tourists spent more money during June, reaching €1.551 billion. This represents 0.2% less than in June 2013, but 24.9% of the total foreign tourist expenditure in Spain that month.

According to EGATUR, the total expenditure of international tourists in Spain reached €26.345 billion during the first half of the year, an increase of 7.8% since the same period in 2013.  British tourists were the visitors spending more money in Spain during the first half of 2014, registering a total of €5.212 billion. The UK also recorded the largest variation during this period, with a 10.2% increase. Germany also registered a significant growth of 9.4% as well as the Nordic countries, which grew by 7.1%.

After the Canary Islands and Catalonia is Andalusia, with a foreign tourist expenditure of €4.032 billion and a growth of 14%. The Balearic Islands come forth in the ranking, with an international tourist expenditure of €3.466 billion, 3.6% less than the first half of 2013.