Foreign tourists spent 10.5% more in Catalonia during the first half of 2013 than last year’s same period

Barcelona (ACN).- Figures released by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism show how the Catalan economy has benefitted from a significant increase in expenditure by foreign visitors. A total of €5.73 billion has been spent by international tourists in Catalonia between January and June 2013, a figure which represents 23.5% of the entire tourist expenditure in Spain. Average spending per visitor in Catalonia is up by 2.2% to €880, while average daily expenditure has increased by 2.4% to €110. This June has seen a notable increase on last year with tourists spending a total of €1.5 4 billion, up by 9%. The average visitor spent €945 (+2.1%), while the average daily expenditure was €125 (-7.1%). As for the whole of Spain, foreign tourists spent €24.42 billion in the first half of the year, an increase of 6.6% on last year. The average visitor spent €936 (+2.25%), while the average daily expenditure was €110 (+2.4). In June, foreign tourists spent €5.98 billion (+2.6%) in Spain, with an average of €949 (-2.6%) spent per trip and €109 (-3.4%) per day.

This increase in expenditure in the whole Spain between January and June can be attributed to tourists coming from Russia, who spent 26.2% more than 2012. They are followed by French (+18.5%) and people from Nordic Countries (+15.4%). The main source of foreign tourist expenditure in Spain came from the British citizens, who primarily visited the Balearic Islands.