INE: Foreign Visitors to Spain Rose by 6% in Q1

4 May 2018 – Eje Prime

Tourism in Spain is on a roll. During the first quarter of 2018, 13.7 million overseas visitors came to Spain, up by 6% compared to the same period in the previous year, according to data from the Statistics of Tourist Movements across Borders (Frontur), compiled by Spain’s National Institute of Statistics (INE).

By country of origin, the British were once again the most prevalent tourists in the country between January and March, with 2.9 million visitors of that nationality. They were followed by German visitors, with 1.9 million people. The number of French tourists, the third most frequent visitor group, amounted to 1.7 million people.

The Canary Islands accounted for most of the international tourist visitors to Spain during the first three months of the year, with more than 3.7 million visitors, becoming the autonomous region of choice. Meanwhile, 3.1 million foreigners arrived in Cataluña, and Andalucía was the region that completed the Top 3 most visited during the period, with 1.9 million tourists.

In March alone, the arrival of overseas visitors to the country gained momentum with an increase of 9.6% with respect to the same month last year, to 5.4 million people. This increase contrasts with the rises recorded in January and February, which amounted to 5.2% and 2.6%, respectively.

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake