Spain received 82.2 million international passengers between January and October, 18.4% more than in the same period in 2022

Between January and October, Spain welcomed 82.2 million international passengers, an increase of 18.4% compared to the same period in 2022. Compared to the same pre-pandemic period in 2019, arrivals were down slightly by just 0.6%.

For the acting Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, "the increase in the arrival of travellers outside what was considered the high season is great news for the deseasonalisation of our tourism, which is also seeing how destinations are diversifying and more and more autonomous communities are experiencing increases in the flow of tourists outside the summer months".

In October, passengers to Spain increased in all the main issuing countries and all markets showed notable increases, with outstanding growth of more than 17% in Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Ireland. To this effect, Italy experienced a year-on-year growth of 20.7%, the Netherlands 18.1%, Portugal 18% and Ireland 17.7%.

The UK, with 2 million international passengers, generated 22.4% of the total flow of arrivals to Spain in October, recording a year-on-year increase of 10.4%. The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands were the communities that received the highest number of arrivals, between them accounting for 46.2% of the British arrivals in our country. For its part, Green Spain (Galicia, Cantabria and Asturias and the Basque Country) showed notable increases of more than 10%. The Mediterranean communities and Madrid also experienced increases of more than 10%.

In October, passenger arrivals from Germany stood at 1.4 million (15% of the total) and increased by 11.4%, mainly to the Balearic Islands (41% of passengers), with notable increases in the rest of the coastal regions, except Galica.

Italy accounted for 9.2% of the flow of passengers welcomed in October (close to 830,276 million), recording a year-on-year growth of 20.7%, which particularly benefited Catalonia and the Madrid Region. The largest year-on-year increase for this market was experienced by the Basque Country, with a 244% increase in arrivals of travellers of this nationality.

France accounted for 8% of the total number of passengers in October, an increase of 6.4% that particularly favoured Madrid, which together welcomed 26.4% of the total arrivals. Also noteworthy are the year-on-year increases in Asturias, the Basque Country and the Valencian Community.

The Netherlands accounted for 5.2% of the total number of travellers. This market experienced a growth of 18.1% in October and its main destinations were Catalonia and the Valencian Community, together accounting for 40% of arrivals.

Autonomous communities of destination

The six main communities accounted for a 96.8% share of arrivals, recording notable increases. The highest year-on-year increase - 22.6% - was in the Valencian Community, followed by Andalusia with 17.7%.

The Community of Madrid received the most arrivals, with 1.9 million, followed by Catalonia, with 1.8 million. Next was the Balearic Islands with 1.4 million and, in fourth place, the Canary Islands, with 1.2 million.

In the accumulated figures up to October, Catalonia and Madrid are the two autonomous communities with the highest growth in passenger arrivals (22.8% in both), followed by Valencia, with 22.6%.

More than half were Europeans

A total of 57.6% of the total number of passengers arriving in October came from the EU, an increase of 14.5%, while the flow from the rest of the world, which accounted for the remaining 42.4%, grew by 12%.

Airports with the most arrivals

Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport received the most arrivals in October, with 1.9 million, followed by Barcelona, with 1.6 million, and Palma de Mallorca, with 1.1 million. The highest year-on-year increase was at Valencia airport, with a 29.1% increase, followed by Alicante airport, with a 19.4% increase.

From January to October 2023, the airports with the greatest increase were Valencia, with 27.8% more, Barcelona, with 23.3% more, and Madrid, with 22.8% more.

Non official translation