ACRONYMS National Statistics Institute
3 January 2024

Total expenditure survey

November 2023. Provisional data

Main results

  • The total expenditure of international tourists who visited Spain in November increased by 23.6% and reached 6,653 million euros.
  • The average daily expenditure increased by 4.1% to 173 euros.

Total expenditure made by international tourists visiting Spain in November reached 6,653 million euros, representing an increase of 23.6% as compared to the same month of 2022. This figure stood by 31.4% more than in the same month of 2019.

The average expenditure per tourist stood at 1,294 euros, with an annual increase of 4.2%. On the other hand, the average daily expenditure increased by 4.1%, up to 173 euros.

Annual variation rate of total international tourist expenditure. November 2023

Annual variation. Percentage

During the first 11 months of 2023 the total expenditure by international tourists increased by 24.0%, reaching 101,569 million euros. The expenditure of this figure stood by 16.9% more, comparing with the same period in 2019, before the pandemic.

Sending countries

The main sending countries, in terms of level of expenditure in November were United Kingdom (with 16.1% of the total), Germany (12.0%) and Nordic countries (9.6%).

Expenditure by tourists from United Kingdom increased by 19.1% in the annual rate, by those from Germany by 16.3% and by those from Nordic countries by 19.1%.

International tourist expenditure by country of residence. November 2023

During the first 11 months of 2023, United Kingdom was the country with the largest cumulative expenditure (18.6% of the total). It was followed by Germany (12.0%) and France (9.0%).

Expense items

The expenditure on international transport (not part of package trips) was the most important item in November, representing 22.0% of the total expenditure and an increase of 27.6% compared to the same month in 2022.

The following items were expenditure on activities and accommodation, which accounted for 21.1% and 17.2% of the total, respectively. The former increased by 22.2% and the latter by 26.5%.

International tourist expenditure by expenditure categories. November 2023

Type of accommodation, method of organization and reason for the trip

58.8% of total tourist expenditure in November was made by tourists staying at hotels, with an annual rise of 18,0%. On the other hand, expenditure on non-rented accommodation increased by 22.6%.

Expenditure by tourists not travelling with a tourist package increased by 23.5% in the annual rate. For those who contract a tourist package, it increased by 24.2%.

In terms of the reasons for travel, tourists visiting Spain for leisure generated 80.5% of the total expenditure, with a 22.4% higher outlay than in November 2022.

International tourist expenditure by main type of accommodation, method of organization and main purpose of the trip. November 2023

(*): Two main groups of accommodation are distinguished according to whether or not there has been a monetary transaction: market (paid accommodation: hotels, rental accommodation, camping, rural house and other market accommodation) or non-market (owned housing, family and friends housing and other non-market accommodation).

Autonomous communities of main destination

The Autonomous Communities of main destination with the greatest weight in total tourist expenditure in November were Canary Islands (with 29.2% of the total), Catalonia (19.1%) and Community of Madrid (15.9%). Tourist spending increased by 16.4% in annual rate in the Canary Islands, 29.9% in Catalonia and 29.2% in the Community of Madrid.

International tourist expenditure according to the autonomous community of the main destination. November 2023

During the first 11 months of 2023, the communities with the highest cumulative expenditure were Catalonia (with 19.3% of the total), the Canary Islands (18.0%) and the Balearic Islands (17.2%).

Review and update of data

The data published today is provisional and will be revised in March. These results are available at INEBase.

Methodological note

The main objective of the Tourist Expenditure Survey (EGATUR) is to obtain monthly information on the tourist expenditure made by non-residents in Spain in their trips to our country.

For the preparation of EGATUR the international definitions and recommendations of the UNWTO and EUROSTAT in this field are followed.

Type of operation:
continuous monthly statistics.
Population scope:
this refers to non-residents in Spain who enter our country, whether or not they have stayed overnight, as well as those who pass through our country in transit.
Geographical scope:
the entire national territory. The sample is collected at the main access points for non-resident travelers (road, airport, port and rail).
Reference period of the results:
the month.
Sample size:
The theoretical annual sample size of EGATUR exceeds 127,000 surveys, which are distributed throughout the year according to the seasonality of the flow of passengers and to the sample design, which is defined for each access road independently, setting a fraction of the sub-sampling from the FRONTUR sample.
Type of sampling:
Single stage, where the estimates of the FRONTUR survey are used as the target population to which the EGATUR data are elevated.
Collection method:
personal interviews when the traveler leaves Spain. A more complete tabulation plan with the main series of aggregates, as well as the microdata file for the reference month, is available on the INE website.

For more information you can access the methodology and the standardized methodological report.

INE statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Good Practice for European Statistics. More information in Quality at INE and the Code of Best Practices.

For further information see Inicio INEbase Official INE account on @es_ine
All press releases at:
www.ine.es/en/prensa/prensa_en.htm
Press office:
(+34) 91 583 93 63 / 94 08 – gprensa@ine.es
Information area:
(+34) 91 583 91 00 – www.ine.es/infoine/?L=1