In the first six months of this year, Spain was visited by a record number of 29.2 million foreign tourists, 4.2% more than in the same period of 2014, the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Tourism announced.
In June alone, Spain was visited by 6.7 million foreign tourists, 1.4% more than in June 2014, setting a new historical record for this month.
The majority of tourists were from the United Kingdom, specifically 6.7 million, an increase of 2.6%, followed by Germans, with 4.7 million (+1.6%), and French, with 4.6 million visitors (+7.5%).
The largest percentage increases were recorded, however, in the case of tourists from the USA, an advance of 15.7% year-on-year to 661,612 tourists, followed by Swiss tourists, an increase of 9.7% to 755,950 tourists, and Belgian tourists, an increase of 7.8% to 974,398 tourists.
In contrast, the number of Russian tourists who visited Spain decreased by 35.7% in the first half of the year, to 361,000, due to the collapse of the ruble.
25.2% of tourists chose Catalonia as their holiday destination, followed by the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and Andalusia.
In 2014, Spain recorded a new record for the number of foreign tourists, nearly 65 million, 7.1% more than in 2013.
Source: Economica
Frequently Asked Questions
How many foreign tourists visited Spain in the first half of the year?
Spain welcomed a record 29.2 million foreign tourists in the first six months, a 4.2% increase compared to the previous year.
Which country had the highest growth in tourist numbers to Spain?
The United States saw the highest percentage growth, with a 15.7% increase in tourists visiting Spain.
What is the most popular holiday destination in Spain for foreigners?
Catalonia is the top destination, attracting 25.2% of all foreign tourists visiting the country.