BRITISH visitors accounted for almost a fifth of a record-breaking August foreign tourist total in Spain.
Figures released by the National Statistics Institute(INE) on Friday showed that 12.25 million tourists chose the country for a holiday – 9.2% more than a year earlier.
Spain welcomed 70.36 million tourists between January and August and expenditure was just below €100 billion- both record numbers.
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August’s total included 2.41 million arrivals from the UK, standing at 19.6% of the figure and an annual rise of 9.3%.
Arrivals from the United States soared by 31.9% to 481,911 travellers, beating off traditionally strong countries like Belgium or Scandinavian countries.
British tourists appear though to have been thrifty with shorter stays and reduced spending.
The largest fall in days stayed in Spain by overseas visitors came from the UK by 1.9% to 7.1 days.
The reduction was mirrored in Brits spending less during their stay with the INE suggesting a 1.6% drop to an average of €1,396.
As for the most popular regions to visit in August, the Balearic Islands led the way with 2.6 million tourists- up by 2.5% over 12 months,
There were far greater increases in Catalunya (9.1% and 2.38 million arrivals) and an impressive 21.2% hike in Andalucia with 2.06 million tourists.
The main destinations in January to August were Catalunya (14.3 million, 3.9% more); the Balearic Islands (11.7 million, 2% more); Andalucia (almost 11.1 million, 10.4% – the fastest growing); Madrid, (6.6 million, 10% growth) and the Valencian Community (9% increase and 9.4 million passengers).
The only area with a cumulative fall was the Canary Islands, with a drop of 0.5% to 10.2 million
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