Spain: Tourist Arrivals From China Increased by 420% in First 6 Months of 2023 - SchengenVisaInfo.com
The number of Chinese tourists visiting Spain has experienced a substantial surge of 420 percent during the initial six months of 2023.
According to the information provided by Turespaña, the Spanish Tourism Institute, there has been a remarkable increase of 592 percent in the expenses of Chinese visitors during this period, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com.
Regarding this matter, Héctor Gómez, the Minister responsible for Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, highlighted that the revitalization of the Asian market, specifically the growing number of tourists from China, is extremely promising for the tourism industry.
"In the upcoming year of 2023, with the new additions we are making this summer, we anticipate reclaiming 80 percent of the connections we had before the pandemic hit. Looking ahead to 2024, we are confident that it will be the year when our market fully regains its strength and significance for our nation," he affirmed.
In June 2023, the number of international tourists arriving in Spain amounted to a staggering 8.3 million.
South Korea & Japan Boost Spain's Tourist Flow
Based on information provided by Turespaña, Spain has experienced significant growth in tourist arrivals from two prominent Asian countries. The influx of visitors from South Korea has skyrocketed by 258.4%, along with a substantial increase of 215% in spending compared to the same period last year.
In the meantime, Japan is still experiencing significant growth rates, as the number of visitors has suddenly increased by 200 percent, and their economic expenditure has shown a strong rise of 134 percent.
In Turespaña's recent survey of countries in the Americas, a notable increase can be seen in the number of visitors coming from the United States. The arrival of American tourists has experienced a remarkable surge, with a substantial growth of 54.7 percent compared to the first half of 2022.
Furthermore, there has been a notable increase of 61 percent in the total expenses made by American visitors compared to the same time frame in the previous year.
"The tourism sector considers the US market to be extremely significant. The gradual and impressive revival in the US showcases Spain's proficiency in creating top-notch tourism offerings," Minister Gómez highlighted regarding this matter.
British Tourists Top Spend In Spain
During the initial half of 2023, Spain witnessed the highest spending from British vacationers, making up approximately 18% of the overall expenses and representing 20.7% of the total number of tourists.
Germany has come in second when it comes to how much money it spends on tourism, with a contribution of 12.7% this year compared to last year. In terms of visitor numbers, Germany has secured the third spot. France, on the other hand, comes in third place in terms of tourism spending, after the UK and Germany, contributing 7.9% to the total spending. France holds the second position when it comes to the flow of tourists, making up 13% of all incoming tourists.
Overall, Portugal has experienced impressive progress in 2023 compared to the previous year, with a significant 27.1 percent rise in the number of tourists visiting and a remarkable 47.4 percent surge in their expenditures. The Netherlands is also worth mentioning, as it witnessed an increase in tourist arrivals, surpassing the previous record of 3.6 million in 2019 and reaching a noteworthy 3.9 million.
