National Insurance contributors employed in tourism sector rise by 1.4% in September

Employment in tourism activities has grown in the last year by 33,961 workers registered with the social security system, and now accounts for 13.2% of all contributors to the Spanish economy.

For the State Secretary for Tourism, Isabel Oliver, "it is essential to diversify and modernise the Spanish model to continue creating jobs and improving Spain's competitiveness, particularly following the crisis caused by the insolvency of Thomas Cook, which the public authorities and the private business fabric have decisively addressed in a coordinated manner.

Of the 33,961 new contributors in September, 8,110 work in the hotel and catering industry. The heading "other activities" rose by 24,167 new contributors. The heading "travel agencies" saw an increase of 1,684 workers. The report highlights the positive performance of this branch of activity since December 2014, which had seen a decline in employment figures for the six straight previous years, from 2008 to 2014.

In absolute figures, employment in hotel and catering and travel agencies/tour operators enjoyed the largest rise in the Region of Madrid, Andalusia and Catalonia. In contrast, the largest declines were posted in the Balearic Islands, Cantabria and Extremadura. In relative terms, there were noteworthy increases year-on-year in the Region of Madrid (2.2%) and La Rioja (1.8%).

Non official translation