The Canary Islands experienced a substantial surge in international tourist arrivals in December, with a 12.65% increase compared to the same month the previous year. According to the latest data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), a total of 1,373,879 international tourists chose the Canary Islands as their holiday destination, contributing to a significant expenditure of 2.1 billion euros, a massive 24.98% increase.
This surge in arrivals and spending sets a new record for the highest number of international tourists and the best expenditure figures for the month of December in the region's historical records.
On average, each tourist visiting the archipelago spent 169 euros per day in December, reflecting a modest 0.37% increase from the same month in 2022. The average length of stay was 9.03 days and, in total, the average expenditure per person reached 1,526 euros, demonstrating a growth of 10.95% compared to December of the previous year.
Cumulatively, from January to December of 2023, a remarkable 13,942,965 tourists explored the Canary Islands, indicating a commendable 13.1% increase, leaving behind an economic footprint of 20.3 billion euros, reflecting an increase of 16.51%.
Breaking down the data, the Canary Islands emerged as the most visited region of Spain, accounting for 26.38% of the total international holidaymakers travelling to the country. Following closely were Catalonia (19.61%) and the Valencian Community (13.71%).
The positive momentum in tourism extended beyond the Canary Islands, as Spain celebrated a new record for international arrivals, in line with earlier predictions.
In the year 2023, a staggering 85.1 million tourists visited Spain, marking an impressive 18.7% increase compared to the previous year. Remarkably, when compared to 2019, before the pandemic, tourist arrivals were 1.9% higher.
Statistical data on tourist movements across borders (Frontur), released yesterday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), revealed that the primary countries of residence for tourists visiting Spain in 2023 were the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom increased by an impressive 14.6%, those from France by 17%, and from Germany by 10.6%.
The positive trend in tourism paints a promising picture for Spain's economic recovery and the vibrant tourism industry.
