Spain sees new record for foreign tourist spending

Foreign tourists spent record amounts of money in the first six months of 2015, according to figures published through the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Energy on Monday.

The period from January to the end of June saw tourists spend 28.2 million euros (31.29 million U.S. dollars), which is 7.4 percent up on same period in 2014: itself a record year for tourist numbers in Spain.

Visitors on average spent 4.2 percent more daily to 115 euros a day, with the average tourist spending 969 euros during their stay.

British visitors led the way, spending 5.727 million euros, a 9.8 percent rise, while Germans spent 4.416 million euros, just 0.5 percent up on 2014.

Meanwhile there was a 12.8 percent leap in income from French tourists, which climbed to 2.6 million euros, while U.S. visitors spent 1.6 million euros, an impressive 26.3 percent increase.

In terms of the regions, Catalonia saw its income from tourism rise by 6.3 million euros, while the Canary Islands saw a 6.2 million euro increase and Andalusia 4.4 million euros.

Visitors to Madrid spent 3.050 million euros, 11.4 percent up on last year. (1 euro = 1.11 U.S. dollars) Endit