85.1 million foreign visitors, representing a 19% increase over the previous year, according to the latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
The number of foreign visitors in 2023 exceeded the 83.5 million who went to Spain in 2019, the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that eliminated most recreational travel.
The UK, France and Germany sent the largest number of tourists to Spain last year.
The INE also reported that Spain’s revenue from foreign tourists was €108.7 billion in 2023, up 25% from the previous year. Tourism accounts for 12% of Spain’s gross domestic product.
Catalonia, including Barcelona, followed by the Mediterranean Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands off the coast of North Africa, were the most popular destinations.
France, Spain and the United States have been the world’s top three tourist destinations for many years.
