New tourism record: foreigners spend more than ever in Catalonia

BarcelonaThe summer of historic results in tourism that the sector predicted in spring. This July, foreign spending has exceeded the threshold of 3,700 million euros for the first time, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE) published this Tuesday. The rise in total spending has also been reflected in the average consumption of each visitor, which has also reached a new high, exceeding 1,500 euros per stay for the first time.

Compared to a year ago, total tourist spending in Catalonia rose by 12.98% and average spending per person by 12.11%. The increases have more than tripled the estimated price increase for the economy as a whole: the consumer price index (CPI, the indicator that calculates families' cost of living) rose by 3.6%.

Despite this, there are two indicators that remain below the registered peak: daily spending and length of stay. On the one hand, tourists from outside the State spent less per day than the previous month: 241 euros. Part of the explanation is due to the fact that, compared to then, they are staying longer in our country. On the other hand, foreigners in July made shorter trips to our country than in January, for example. Compared to July of last year, each person spent 5.5% more per day and stayed 6.26% longer.