31 October 2024

Tourist Movements at Borders (FRONTUR)

September 2024. Provisional data

Main results

Spain received 9.6 million international tourists in September, 9.1% more than in the same month in 2023.
In the first nine months of 2024, the number of international tourists visiting Spain peaked, reaching 73.9 million.

More information

Annex of tables (includes information from the Autonomous Communities)
Advanced query system
Infographic: Tourism Indicators

In September, Spain received 9.6 million international tourists, 9.1% more than in the same month in 2023.

In the first nine months of 2024 the number of tourists visiting Spain increased by 10.9% to over 73.9 million. This is the highest figure since the INE's Frontur records began.

International tourists arrivals by months

Annual variation. Percentage

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            "8.3",
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The United Kingdom was the main country of residence, with more than 2.0 million tourists and an increase of 5.3% compared with September 2023. There were 1.3 million arrivals from Germany (1.1% more) and 1.1 million from France (14.3% more).

International tourists arrivals (*) by country of residence. September 2024

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        "9.1",
        "73,903,045",
        "10.9",
        "1,309,425",
        "1.1",
        "9,354,971",
        "8.0",
        "315,624",
        "12.5",
        "2,500,219",
        "15.3",
        "1,095,777",
        "14.3",
        "10,291,965",
        "10.5",
        "296,195",
        "11.1",
        "2,207,407",
        "12.8",
        "505,406",
        "17.3",
        "4,262,863",
        "12.5",
        "496,917",
        "5.1",
        "3,881,157",
        "12.3",
        "303,152",
        "7.6",
        "2,392,822",
        "6.4",
        "2,046,444",
        "5.3",
        "14,708,847",
        "7.4",
        "210,747",
        "0.0",
        "1,676,996",
        "8.6",
        "438,852",
        "8.3",
        "3,832,873",
        "8.2",
        "956,833",
        "20.9",
        "7,138,190",
        "16.5",
        "442,279",
        "1.2",
        "3,350,063",
        "12.5",
        "558,333",
        "19.7",
        "3,901,995",
        "10.4",
        "619,151",
        "11.7",
        "4,402,678",
        "21.1"
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(*) Does not include transit travellers or same-day visitors (excursionists).
(**) Includes the estimate for Russia.

The main countries of origin during the first nine months were the United Kingdom (with over 14.7 million tourists and an increase of 7.4%), France (almost 10.3 million and an increase of 10.5%) and Germany (with about 9.4 million, 8.0% more).

Main type of accommodation and other characteristics of the trips

The number of tourists who chose market accommodation as their main type of accommodation increased by 7.1% in annual terms. Within this type, hotel accommodation increased by 4.6% and rented accommodation by 32.8%, while non-market accommodation increased by 23.0%.

International tourist arrivals by type of accommodation. September 2024

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        "8,220,744",
        "7.1",
        "61,491,503",
        "10.7",
        "6,765,388",
        "4.6",
        "49,303,204",
        "8.6",
        "1,068,879",
        "32.8",
        "8,954,693",
        "26.1",
        "386,477",
        "-4.2",
        "3,233,606",
        "5.5",
        "1,374,392",
        "23.0",
        "12,411,542",
        "12.0",
        "448,060",
        "17.4",
        "3,764,057",
        "3.9",
        "855,893",
        "24.5",
        "7,763,810",
        "14.7",
        "70,439",
        "46.4",
        "883,675",
        "27.8"
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Four to seven nights was the main duration of stay among tourists, with almost 4.7 million and an annual increase of 8.7%. The number of visitors increased by 0.6% among those without overnight stays (excursionists) and decreased by 0.8% among tourists with longer duration (more than 15 nights).

Almost 6.9 million tourists travelled without a package tour in September, up by 10.9%. Over 2.7 million travellers arrived with package tours, an increase of 4.8%.

Autonomous communities of main destination

Illes Balears was the top destination for tourists in September, with 22.4% of the total. It was followed by Cataluña (21.2%) and Andalucía (15.0%).

Illes Balears received 4.2% more tourists than in September 2023. The number of tourists visiting Cataluña increased by 11.8% and 10.3% more tourists came to Andalucía.

International tourist arrivals by main Autonomous Community of destination. Monthly and cumulative data. September 2024

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        "1,435,271",
        "10.3",
        "10,770,832",
        "12.0",
        "2,147,685",
        "4.2",
        "13,309,496",
        "5.9",
        "1,105,851",
        "7.8",
        "10,971,296",
        "10.0",
        "2,033,263",
        "11.8",
        "15,782,486",
        "10.0",
        "1,196,583",
        "14.8",
        "9,455,226",
        "17.1",
        "817,242",
        "6.2",
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        "15.6",
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        "10.6",
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        "10.4"
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In the accumulated first nine months of 2024, the Autonomous Communities that received the most tourists were Cataluña (with 15.8 million and an increase of 10.0% as compared with the same period in 2023), Illes Balears (with 13.3 million and an increase of 5.9%) and Canarias (11.0 million, 10.0% more).

Data revisions and updates

The data published today are provisional and will be revised in March next year. All results of this operation are available on INEbase.

Methodological note

The main objective of the Tourist Movement on Borders Survey (FRONTUR) is to estimate the number of non-residents visiting Spain on a monthly basis, as well as to know the main characteristics of the trips made by these visitors. The international definitions and recommendations of the UNWTO and EUROSTAT in this field are followed when preparing the FRONTUR.

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 travellers, by road, airport, port and rail.
Reference period of the results:: the month.
Sample size:: the annual theoretical sample size of FRONTUR exceeds 450,000 surveys, which are distributed throughout the year, taking into account the seasonality of passenger flows.
Sampling type:: strata have been defined for each form of entry that group together border points, airports, ports and railway lines. In determining the road and airport sample, the day of the week in which the survey has been carried out is also identified, differentiating between working days, weekends and holidays. In airports, 21 air relations are defined (Spanish airport of origin-country of destination airport).
Collection method:: information is collected by direct interview when the traveller leaves Spain, using a multilingual electronic questionnaire.

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

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

For further information see

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