The recovery of international tourism in Spain after the pandemic

Abstract

Rationale International tourism indicators in Spain are consolidating their recovery towards pre-pandemic levels, after virtually all restrictions on international travel were lifted. Against this background, the changes observed in tourists’ country of origin and travel behaviour should be analysed. Takeaways •Tourist flows are yet to fully recover 2019 levels, essentially due to the continued weakness in long-haul tourism, particularly from Asia. •However, tourism receipts have already reached pre-crisis levels, driven in part by Spain attracting more visitors with greater spending power, as borne out by the rising proportion of higher quality hotel accommodation. •The expectations for the next three months are somewhat cautious due to the uncertainty prompted by the deteriorating economic outlook and the upsurge in inflation. In the long-term, international tourism flows will be shaped by the sector’s capacity to continue improving the quality of its tourism offering.