According to the Tourist Expenditure Survey (EGATUR) drafted by the Institute for Tourism Statistics of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, inbound tourists spent a total of 4.8 billion euros in May 2012. This year-on-year increase of 7.5% is due to both a large number of inbound tourists (up 5.8%) and increased average spending per trip (up 2%).
Average daily spending in May stood at 114 euros (up 3.8% year-on-year). Average spending per tourist stood at 886 euros (a year-on-year increase of 1.6%).
The autonomous regions to most benefit from this growth were the Region of Madrid (up 29.5%), the Region of Valencia (14.2%) and Catalonia (11.7%).
Among the main emitting markets, there was particularly strong growth in total expenditure by German tourists with an increase of 15.6% to 756 million euros.
In the period January-May 2012, inbound tourists spent a total of 17.81 billion euros (up 4.6% on the previous year). Average daily spending (110 euros) increased by 11.1% and average spending per tourist (932 euros) increased by 2.1%.
Emitting markets
The United Kingdom stood out from among the emitting markets with total expenditure of 972 million euros in May (up 2.8%). This result was especially felt in Catalonia and the Region of Valencia. Average daily spending rose by 7.7% to 91 euros and average spending per tourist rose by 1.6% to 676 euros.
Germany, helped by a noticeable increase in the number of inbound tourists, was the fastest growing market in terms of total expenditure in May (up 15.6% to 756 million euros). The Balearic Islands, their main destination, accounted for the largest percentage of this growth.
France, Italy and the Nordic countries recorded lower total expenditure figures this month, in spite of a larger number of inbound tourists from these countries.
Latin America is worth highlighting from among the other emitting markets due to its significant growth this month, continuing the trend seen in the rest of the year.
Main destination autonomous regions
In May, Catalonia received a considerable percentage of total expenditure from inbound tourists visiting Spain (up 11.7% to 1.18 billion euros). This was mainly due to the increase recorded by the British market and by the more distant markets. The region continues to record increasing total expenditure figures, as it did in previous months.
In May, the Balearic Islands was the second autonomous region in terms of tourist expenditure (up 3.8% to 921 million euros). This was mainly due to increased spending by German tourists. The average spending per person and per day indicators also rose this month.
The Region of Madrid consolidated its total tourist expenditure figure with growth of 29.5% to 601 million euros, a reflection of the significant increase in the number of inbound tourists. The larger number of tourists from distant markets had an important effect on this result.
The Canary Islands maintained the level of growth recorded since the start of the year. Total expenditure in this region grew by 1.1% to 584 million euros, while average daily spending rose by 6.3%.
Spending by British tourists had a noticeable effect on this result.
Tourist expenditure in the Region of Valencia (up 14.2% to 436 million euros) was helped by the performance of the British and Nordic markets. Average spending per tourist in this region rose by 10.5%.
Type of accommodation, type of holiday and reason for travel
Spending by those tourists who stayed in hotel accommodation rose by 7.2% to 3.37 billion euros, compared with 8.2% growth in those tourists who chose other types of accommodation (to 1.44 billion euros). Average daily spending increased in both cases.
Total expenditure by independent travellers increased by 7.2% to 3.14 billion euros, while total expenditure by those who travelled on a package holiday increased by 8.1% to 1.67 billion euros.