France, America, and Spain: top three travel destinations in 2013

Spain toppled China to attain the number three spot in world tourism. In 2012, the top three places were France, America, and China. In 2013, France topped the list of most international tourists to the country with 83 million international visitors. The United States of America was second with 67 million international tourists, and Spain received a record 60.6 million international tourists.

Spain’s foreign visitors increased in numbers by 5.6% on 2012’s figures. Income from the tourism sector in Spain also reached record levels. In the first 11 months of 2013 tourist spending increased by 8.7% over the same period in 2012. The increase in numbers and revenue – and over 11% of all jobs – was a great boost to the economy in which unemployment numbers had reached 26% in 2012. After two years of negative growth, Spain’s GDP increased by 0.1% in the third quarter of 2013 and by 0.3% in the final quarter.

It is estimated that Spain’s growth in international tourists was due to Egypt’s loss of 2.5 million foreign tourists. The tourists visiting Spain were mainly from Britain (with 14.3 million tourists accounting for 23.6% of all visitors), reported Spain’s Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Tourism. Tourists from Germany accounted for 16.2% in second place with French tourists third (15.7%) and tourists from Nordic countries in fourth place (8%). Russian tourists to Spain showed the greatest increase (with 31.6% more tourists to Spain in 2013 than in 2012).

The top destinations in Spain were Catalonia (15.5 million foreign tourists, 25.7% of the total) and the Balearic Islands including Majorca (11.1 million international tourists, 18.3% of the total).

The Spanish government is expecting an overall expansion of 0.7% in economic growth for 2014 due to increased tourism.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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