2011: tourism's third best ever

In November alone, 126'987 foreign tourists visited the Islands, 7.7 percent more than during the same month in 2010. They accounted for 4.2 percent of the total number of overseas tourists in Spain during the month.

During the first 11 months of the year, 53.96 million foreign tourists visited Spain, 7.7 percent more than during the first 11 months of 2010.
These figures endorse the forecasts of Central Government which had forecast that almost 57 million tourists would have come to Spain by the end of this year. The total makes 2011 the third best year in history in terms of visitor numbers, after the 59.2 million visitors who came in 2007 and the 58.4 million in 2006.

Last month, 3 million foreign tourists came to Spain, 3.6 percent more than during the same month in 2010. The results make the month one of the best Novembers on record along with those of 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Key client markets
As much in the accumulated year to date figure as in November, the United Kingdom and Germany continue to be the key client markets, with 13 million visitors from the UK (9.2% more); and 8.6 million from Germany (2.6% more).

France, Scandinavian countries and Italy are the three next most important clients to Spain and the Balearic Islands with growth this year of 4.5, 8.2 and 7.8 percent respectively.

In terms of destinations selected in Spain, the highest number of visitors went to Catalonia in the first 11 months of the year, 13.1 million tourists (4.7% more than the same period in 2010); followed by the Balearic Islands, 10 million (10.1%); the Canary Islands 9.2 million (18.5%) and Andalucia with 7.5 million (6%).

From January to November this year, 4.2 million tourists visited the region of Madrid, but this was a downturn of 0.6 percent compared to the first 11 months of 2010.

Flying in
The number of tourists who flew into Spain for their holidays in November this year increased by 4.9 percent in comparison with the same month in 2010 to reach 2.4 million passengers.

During the first 11 months of the year, 42.4 million people used air travel to reach Spain, 10.1 percent more than during January to November 2010.
In November, 481'432 foreign tourists drove down to Spain, -1.3 percent less than in the same month in 2010; whilst over the first 11 months of this year, 9.9 million came by road.

In terms of accommodation, of the total number of foreign visitors who came to Spain last month, 2 million stayed in hotels, 6.1% more than during the same month in 2010, and 914'751 used establishments other than hotels such as self-catering apartments, holiday villas, camp sites - -2.3% less than in November last year.

Two million tourists chose to come to Spain last month without a tourist package including flights, hotels and travel to and from airports, 6.6% more than in November 2010, whilst one million came through an organised package, 17.1% more than in November 2010.