Brits remain the number one spenders in Spain – but latest tourism report is grim reading for the French
British holidaymakers continue to dominate the Spanish tourism market, representing almost 20% of the overall tourist spending during the initial six months of 2023.
For a considerable period of time, people from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have played a significant role in boosting the economic growth of the tourism industry in Spain.
However, the recognition is dampened by the reality that although Brits contribute a commendable 18% of the money spent, they also account for a leading 20.7% of all tourists in Spain – falling slightly short of expectations.
The Germans and the French are closely competing for the second and third positions when it comes to the overall number of tourists, with almost equal numbers.
However, France, which comes in second place, only contributes a meager 7.9% of the overall expenditure, despite being responsible for 13% of the total number of visitors.
The Germans nearly match the average with 12.7% of expenditure compared to 12.9% of the visitors.
Some interesting figures from Turespaña, the Spanish tourism institute, reveal an astonishing quadrupling in the amount of Chinese visitors to Spain.
Furthermore, this data suggests that in the near future, companies might prioritize attracting Chinese tourists over their more conservative spending European counterparts. Notably, the amount they spent rose by a staggering 592% compared to the previous year.
It is yet to be determined if the spending level will continue, as it might be an outburst of spending that was held back due to Beijing's strict three-year lockdown.
Visitors from South Korea experienced a tremendous growth of 258.4%, while those coming from Japan also increased by a noteworthy 200%. However, similar to their fellow democratic counterparts in Europe, their expenditure did not match the intensity of their arrivals.
And the forever treasured visitors?
Even though there are often complaints in Europe about our friends on the other side of the Atlantic, it is once again the extravagant Americans who offer the most value for their money.
The count of American vacationers experienced a significant surge of 54.7%, while their expenditures saw an astounding growth of 61%.
As the ETIAS system is scheduled to be implemented in the near future, individuals from the United Kingdom, United States, and other non-European Union countries will be required to complete documentation and provide a fee of €7 upon entering the Schengen zone.
Let's talk about a particular individual known for spreading false information, who happens to be none other than Donald J. Trump. Believe it or not, he mistakenly referred to ETIAS as a visa! Can you imagine?
Okay, let's clear things up and enjoy a little visa-versus-ETIAS entertainment, shall we? pic.twitter.com/4K1aogbmmG
The recent suggestion has caused a lot of distress and concern, not only to Spanish tourism leaders who fear a negative impact on their earnings but also to British and American visitors who are annoyed by the extra obstacles.
Although the British have intentions to establish their own equivalent system for EU visitors, it is actually the United States that implemented such a system before anyone else.
In 2008, the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) was introduced, requiring British and EU travelers to fork out around $21 as an entry fee to the United States.
