In 2023, tourist levels in Spain did not just bounce back to pre-pandemic levels, they exceeded them. Find out how this is set to increase even more.
Tourist levels have exceeded expectations in Spain!
Spain has a long-held position as a favourite holiday destination, especially with Brits. The allure of copious sunshine, Blue Flag beaches and a touch of tapas is irresistible for holidaymakers.
Having said that, the tourism industry took a blow during the pandemic. Restrictions and economic uncertainty saw a nosedive in the number of holidaymakers heading for Spain. But 2023 saw numbers not just return to normal – but overtake those in 2019.
According to Murcia Today, last year, more than 283 million tourists passed through the doors of Spanish airports. This is the highest number of all time.
It is close to 3% the number that entered in 2019. Plus, it is more than 16.2% more than 2022.
The increases were seen in both international and national, 18.2% and 12.6% more than 2022, respectively.
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Where are passengers headed?
Unsurprisingly, Madrid’s airport, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, saw the greatest number of passengers (60.2 million). Followed by Barcelona-El Prat (49.9 million), Palma de Mallorca (31.1 million), Málaga (22.3 million) and Alicante (15.7 million). Plus, although Valencia had just 9.9 million, this was a considerable increase from the previous year of 22.6%. Interestingly, last year, Valencia was voted the number one spot for a European city break by the readers of Which?.
New investment from Ryanair
Source: Giannis Papanikos/ shutterstock.
On January 12th, President Pedro Sánchez, met with the CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary to discuss the airline’s plans to invest €5 billion over the next seven years.
In that time, Ryanair will increase passenger numbers from 55 million to 77 million. Plus, it will increase routes from 730 to more than a thousand by 2033. Additionally, it will establish 33 new sustainable aircraft with a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions. The airline will also establish five new bases. There will be a focus on giving regional areas a boost too.
Ryanair is already a leading air carrier in Spain. It employs 6,500 people and has more than 700 routes to 29 countries from Spain.
President Pedro Sánchez highlighted the economic advantages that this would bring to the country.
New travel advice
As fantastic and welcome as this news is, it’s worth bearing in mind that the UK government have recently updated their travel advice for Spain. Due to an increase in respiratory infections such as the flu and COVID-19, Spain have now introduced rules around wearing face masks in healthcare settings, and it is best to check the rules of the region you are headed to before you fly. Find out more here.
Plus, read up on an expat’s experience of healthcare in Spain here.
Time to rent out a holiday home in Spain?
Thinking of renting out your Spanish home?
One way to take advantage of Spain’s ever-growing popularity with tourists is to rent out your property to holidaymakers. If you are planning on purchasing a second home in Spain, then this is a fantastic way to make a profit. Additionally, renting out a holiday home in Spain can offer a way to cover the costs of maintaining the property. The income generated from rentals can offset the expenses related to upkeep, utilities, and local taxes. Learn more about managing your finances in Spain here.
One of our writers at Property Guides, Richard Way, owns a home on the Costa Brava. Find out how he prepped it for rentals here.
Finally, download our guide on how to buy a holiday home in Spain.
