HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

Amidst the peak tourist season, the U.S. market is displaying remarkable growth in Spain, even as the country's summer figures strive to regain their pre-pandemic levels. Notably, in June of this year, Spain recorded a surge in American visitors, with 1.8 million Americans exploring the country. This figure represents a significant 17.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022, a time when stringent COVID-19 restrictions were still in place. These encouraging statistics have been provided by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Despite ranking sixth among the countries of origin for visitors to Spain, the United States made a pronounced impact in June alone. Impressively, 546,093 U.S. nationals arrived, marking the highest numbers since 2015 when the INE began its record-keeping. The favoured Spanish destinations for U.S. tourists are Catalonia, attracting 41 percent of visitors, and Madrid, a choice for 27 percent of tourists. The allure of Spain was articulated by Héctor Gómez, the Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, who emphasised, "Our destination is synonymous with safety, sustainability, and modernity. With their substantial purchasing power and discerning standards, American tourists consider us among their preferred European vacation destinations. The U.S. market holds a position of paramount importance for our thriving tourism sector."

Despite this surge, Spain faces competition as the preferred EU country for American travellers. The United Kingdom, France, and Italy remain the top choices for U.S. tourists exploring Europe. However, Spain acknowledges the innate potential within the vast U.S. market, which stands ready for significant expansion.

Remarkably, throughout 2022, tourism from the U.S. exhibited unprecedented growth: tourist volume increased by 249.5 percent, spending escalated by 250.8 percent, and overnight stays surged by 239.6 percent. Moreover, there was a progressive revival of U.S. spending in Spain compared to 2019 figures. On average, individuals spent 1,874 euros per trip, with a daily expenditure averaging 266 euros.

Interestingly, the share of U.S. tourists in the total number of European visitors is on a steady incline. Between January and March, Europe witnessed the arrival of 2,947,720 American travellers, comprising 14.5 percent of the overseas visitor share. However, early 2022 was marked by constrained visitor numbers due to pandemic-related restrictions, including mandatory negative COVID-19 tests, vaccination certificates, and voluntary quarantines. Notably, Spain maintained border controls and testing requirements for travellers from outside the European Union until October 2022.

Travel occupies a significant place in the budgets of 54.5 percent of Americans, underscoring its importance. Among those who opted for Spain as their destination, 86 percent indicated leisure as their primary motivation. The key activities undertaken included city sightseeing (65 percent), cultural exploration (62 percent), and shopping (55 percent), as reported by Turespaña, the agency responsible for promoting Spain. Accommodation preferences leaned towards hotels, chosen by 80 percent, while 10 percent opted for apartment rentals. Remarkably, 16 percent of American tourists chose tour packages, while the majority relished planning their own unique itineraries.

Sources

https://english.elpais.com/spain/2023-08-03/americans-are-back-in-spain-tourist-numbers-rise-following-end-of-pandemic-restrictions.html