UK Tourists' Spending In Spain Trumps Germans And French Despite Living Costs

Despite the cost of living crisis at home, British tourists visiting Spain have been surpassing their European counterparts in spending, as revealed by recent figures. According to data from the Spanish National Institute for Statistics (INE) covering the first five months of the year, UK holidaymakers have outspent Germans, French, Italians, and Scandinavians, with an impressive 18 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Between January and May, British tourists splurged over 6 billion euros (£5.14 billion) on their travel to Spain, including expenses on hotels, dining, sightseeing, and leisure activities. This amount accounted for 17 per cent of the total spending by tourists from the major European countries during their vacations.

Interestingly, despite the ongoing cost of living crisis in the UK, which has led some people to curtail luxury spending on foreign holidays, the number of British visitors to Spain is expected to hit a record high this year. Lloyd Milen, the British consul in Barcelona specialising in tourism, said “Spain continues to be a popular tourist destination for Brits, with more than 5.7 million Britons enjoying a trip to Spain in the first five months of this year – more than any other nationality.

“We expect it to be a record-breaking year for British tourism to Spain, with visitor and spending exceeding pre-pandemic and then some.”

Despite heat waves with soaring temperatures reaching 40 degrees celsius and posing wildfire threats, British tourists have not been deterred from visiting Spain. However, it should be noted that data on holidays after the heatwaves in June and July is yet to be available.

Interestingly, despite an increase in tourist numbers, the incidence of bad behaviour among British tourists, for which they had gained a reputation in some areas of Spain, has significantly reduced. Diplomatic figures show a 90 per cent decline in what they classify as "serious incidents" in Magaluf, Mallorca, and Sant Antoni, Ibiza, compared to the previous year.

Efforts such as the Stick With Your Mates campaign, a collaboration between the British Embassy in Madrid and Spanish authorities, have played a role in encouraging tourists to watch out for each other during their partying in popular resorts like Mallorca and Ibiza. This campaign has helped reduce accidents, such as "balconing," in which people jump or fall from balconies, with a significant number of incidents previously involving British tourists.

Overall, despite economic challenges at home, British visitors' spending in Spain continues to rise, making it a promising year for tourism between the two countries.

Sources

https://inews.co.uk/news/world/forget-cost-living-uk-tourists-spending-spain-germans-french-2511247?ITO=newsnow