4 million tourists in January, Spain returns to pre-pandemic figures
22 March, 2023In January, Spain welcomed 4.1 million international tourists, 65.8% more than the same month of 2022. These travellers spent 5,218 million euros on their travel and stay, 2,178 million euros more (71.7%) than in January last year, according to data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
Compared to 2019, the data for January equals pre-pandemic figures (in January 2019 only 49,594 more tourists arrived in Spain than in January 2023). In terms of spending, the figure for January 2023 far exceeds pre-pandemic spending: compared to January 2019, international tourists have spent 529 million euros more.
For the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, “this extraordinary data shows that tourism will be one of the engines of the Spanish economy this year; with figures like those we have seen today, we are closer to our objective: to adapt tourism to the 21st century, enhancing its quality”, quoted the head of the government department to which Turespaña is attached.