In 2009 over 52 million international tourists arrived in Spain - 15.01.2010

•       The decline was forecast above 10%, but the gradual slowdown in the pace of decline has led to close with a decrease of 8.7% according to the progress of the Institute of Tourism Studies, less than anticipated.
•       In a global crisis, EU tourists have visited have increased the average spending per tourist by 2.1%.
•       The total expenditure has exceeded the 48,000 million euros, down 6.8%.
•       Tourism has taken to 2,250,000 people, 12% of the total.  The unemployment rate is five points below the national average.
 Secretary of State for Tourism, Spanish Government, Joan Mesquida, has provided details of the financial year 2009 balance sheet, an environment marked by the global crisis has negatively affected the global tourist destinations across the board.
The number of tourists visiting Spain in 2009 surpassed 52 million, a decrease of 8.7% over the previous year, according to the progress of the Institute of Tourism Studies (IET).  However, this figure is below the forecasts of a fall for the full year more than two digits.
Mesquida emphasized the gradual slowdown in the pace of decline in the number of tourists visiting Spain who has been recording since the March (-16.3%).  In the first half the number of tourists fell by 11.4%, while in the first nine months fell by 9.8%.
In the whole year, total spending exceeded the 48,000 million euros, about 6.8% less than in the previous year (forward).  By contrast, the average expenditure per tourist in 2009 increased 2.1% to over 920 euros, while the average daily spending rose a slight 0.1%.
As for domestic tourism in 2009 by residents of Spain made 174 million trips, new record high, up 3.3% over the same period last year, according to data released by the EIT.  About 93% of trips of residents have been made within the country, 2.7% more than in 2008, while the remaining 7% has gone abroad (+12.5%).
Tourism has taken to 2,250,000 people, according to the EPA for the third quarter of 2009, bringing the weight of the tourism sector in total employment stood at 12.0%.
The unemployment rate in tourism is five points below the national average (12.9% vs 17.9%), while a year before the difference was just over two points.
Tourism Policy
In this situation, the Government has given priority to tourism policy, approving the biggest budget in history, up 109% over 2008.
Looking to 2010, in a time of major constraints that have led to deep cuts in other departments, the budget of the SET was increased by 0.13%.
 Major actions included the implementation of the Renewal Plan and the Future whose aim has been to increase the quality of tourism infrastructures and deliver more value.
Of the 1,500 million budgeted over the past 2009, through the Tourism and Future Renove lines have been provided about 1,400 million, which has resulted in induced investment of close to 2,850 million euros.
Note also the launch of the pilot project Senior Tourism Europe.  Initially, the project has been implemented in Andalusia and the Balearic and involves a total of 16 countries. 
To start it has reached agreements with nearly a hundred local agencies in occupied territories or countries of origin, which means about 14,000 outlets.
The host program, intended to improve the quality of the tourist industry has developed in training that involved more than 7,000 professionals in 40 countries worldwide.
The promotion of Spain as a tourist destination abroad has increased its budget by 13% in 2009.  The amount allocated for 2010 rose by 6.4%.
In what has been a new strategy for joint promotion last year, 259 agreements have been reached with CCAA, public and private agencies, tour operators, airlines. 
With a total budget of 67.8 million, for shares of advertising in 30 markets, has contributed 42.5 million Turespaña, the Autonomous Communities and local government 13 million and 12.3 million others have been in the private sector.
Turespaña was present in 170 international tourism fairs held in 45 countries, with a total investment of 9.5 million.
In addition, later this year has been awarded the new creativity that seeks to enhance the differentiation of fate Spain with respect to its direct competitors.
Tourist Offices Abroad (OET) 3173 have been implemented communication activities, marketing, promotion and marketing support, 3% more than in 2008.
From the State Secretariat of Tourism has organized the trip of more than 2,200 journalists who have published 3,500 articles and reports on our country with an advertising value of 126.5 million euros.
 About 3,580 operators and travel agents visited Spain, guests also Turespaña, familiarization trips.
In addition, last year two new Tourist Offices Abroad in Mumbai (India) and Guangzhou (China), increasing Turespaña positioning in emerging markets.  Currently, the network is made up 33 offices and its budget for 2010 amounts to 29 million euros, up 6%.
 Innovation
It has also been launched after two years of work, the new portal of tourist information, using the latest technological innovations in the service of business and tourist destinations.
Note also the training effort to improve the technological capabilities of enterprises, with online courses which have benefited more than 10,000 professionals.
On innovation, we have advanced in the implementation of the Integral Network of Knowledge and Tourism Intelligence (Intelitur) jointly with the Council of Chambers (CSC), a tool that will make available to all stakeholders knowledge generated in tourism, both public and private.
It has created 22 innovative clusters, comprising over 300 SMEs, 70 associations, 35 universities, 27 technology centers and institutes and over 70 agencies.
Council of Ministers
Moreover, the commitment to tourism was highlighted by the celebration, on 24 July, the Council of Ministers monograph on tourism, was played Palma de Mallorca and pledged an investment of over 1,000 million euros, with the implication of 12 ministries.

38 actions were approved to promote eco-efficiency and innovation (future plans, Creating Environmental Technology Center and Tourism Development of actions on R & D and Tourism), the seasonal decrease (increase by 200,000 the number of seats Program participants IMSERSO Social Tourism), improving connectivity and increasing passenger movements by air (air taxes reduction, opening of new routes for commercial traffic), the external promotion (open new TAB in Canton, commissioning up of a new creative advertising campaign) as well as the development and consolidation of products (Cultural Tourism Plan 2010-2012, Promoting Xacobeo 2010).