Spain tourism rakes in $81 billion from international arrivals in 2013

According to the figures released by the Spain Tourism Ministry, Spain raked in a massive sum of 59 billion euros ($81 billion) from international tourists in 2013. Spain is one of the most sought after destinations in the world tourism industry. It was ranked third after France and USA, according to the tourism influx last year.

The surge of foreign tourist arrivals in 2013 resulted in a rise of 9.6% year-on-year international expenditure in Spain. The economic recession in Europe and Spain got a huge boost from the flamboyant tourism industry. Spain tourism contributes almost 10% of the country’s economy.

“Spain closed 2013 with a historic record in international tourism spending,” the tourism ministry said in a statement.

British tourists, who flocked to Spain in the greatest numbers, spent a total of 12.0 billion euros, about one-fifth of the total.

They were followed by the Germans who splashed out 9.7 billion euros and the French who spent 5.9 billion euros, the government said.

Russian tourists boosted spending by the greatest margin, lifting expenditure by 29 percent to 2.35 billion euros in 2013, accounting for four percent of the total, it said.

In 2013, Spain replaced China on the third spot of the global tourism map as far as international arrivals are concerned. The rising outbound tourism of China and pollution problems in Beijing and other parts disturbed the Asian tourism giant last year.