Spain sees tourism back to prepandemic levels in 2022 after solid Sept
data
Send a link to a friend
[November 03, 2021]
MADRID (Reuters) - International
travel to Spain is recovering fast and could allow the tourism-dependent
nation to reach pre-pandemic foreign visitor levels by 2022, the
government said on Wednesday after data showed a sharp rise in September
arrivals.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Spain more than quadrupled in
September from a year ago to nearly 4.7 million, data from the National
Statistics Office showed, as widespread vaccination and looser travel
restrictions enticed back more visitors.
"These data confirm a reactivation of international tourism is underway
and that in 2022 we could recover pre-pandemic levels," Tourism Minister
Reyes Maroto said in a statement.
Maroto cited Spain's natural tourist attractions and its high level of
vaccination - around 80% of the population - as driving forces behind
the recovery.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Nov/03/images/ads/current/christianvillage_sda_SPONSOR_042720.png)
She had said in the past foreign tourism would be half pre-pandemic
level in 2021 up from less than 20% in 2020.
Unlike Italy and France, Spain does not require proof of vaccination or
a recent negative COVID-19 test to enter restaurants or bars, meaning
unvaccinated visitors can enjoy their holiday without taking tests every
few days.
[to top of second column]
|
![](../images/110321PIX/news_v43.jpg)
A tourist jumps into the sea on the Amadores beach, amid the
outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the south of the
island of Gran Canaria, Spain, August 3, 2021. REUTERS/Borja
Suarez/File Photo
![](../images/ads/current/centraldirect_lda_SPONSOR_2021.png)
Nevertheless, total arrivals were still far below the
8.8 million who came to Spain in September of 2019, before the
coronavirus pandemic hit.
Tourists spent a total of 5.04 billion euros ($5.84 billion)in the
country, soaring from the 964 million euros of the previous year but
a long way off the 9.62 billion euros spent in September 2020.
Germans made up the largest group of foreign travellers, followed by
Britons and French people, the data showed.
($1 = 0.8638 euros)
(Reporting by Nathan Allen, editing by Inti Landauro and Angus
MacSwan)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Nov/03/images/ads/current/graue_sda_042021.png) |