Spain is actively addressing the reduction in average visit durations of UK tourists.
- From 2019 to 2023, the average duration of UK visitors’ trips to Spain dropped from 7.29 days to 6.91 days, representing a 5% decrease.
- Despite this trend, the overall average stay of all international visitors to Spain increased to 7.30 days.
- Spain is focusing on sustainability to enhance its appeal, aiming to draw more and longer stays from UK travellers.
- Efforts include targeting affluent, older travellers and promoting year-round travel.
Spain is actively addressing the reduction in average visit durations of UK tourists. The Spanish Tourist Office highlights a need to tackle the recent decrease in the length of UK visitors’ trips, with 2023 figures showing an average stay of 6.91 days, down from 7.29 days in 2019, marking a 5% drop.
From 2019 to 2023, the average duration of UK visitors’ trips to Spain dropped from 7.29 days to 6.91 days, representing a 5% decrease. This reduction contrasts an overall positive trend where the average stay for all tourists increased from 7.11 days to 7.30 days during the same period, implying specific challenges with the UK market.
Despite this trend, the overall average stay of all international visitors to Spain increased to 7.30 days. Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK, noted that efforts are needed to enhance these statistics. He expressed a positive view of the recovery in UK visitor numbers back to near pre-pandemic levels, with a modest 3.8% decrease compared to 2019 numbers, and an increase in daily spending by UK tourists from €136 to €166.
Spain is focusing on sustainability to enhance its appeal, aiming to draw more and longer stays from UK travellers. The country’s strategy includes strengthening partnerships with travel agents and focusing on promoting Spain as a destination for excellence and sustainable tourism. Key among the target groups are travellers over the age of 55 with higher incomes.
Efforts include targeting affluent, older travellers and promoting year-round travel. Pedro Medina, deputy director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK, stated that initiatives to encourage travel throughout the year are underway. These include highlighting less-visited destinations and sustainable forms of transport. Maria Hernandez, head of department at the Spanish Tourist Office, cited Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network as a sustainable travel option, saying, “You can really discover Spain in a more sustainable way.”
Spain aims to recover the length of stay for UK visitors by focusing on strategic sustainability initiatives and targeted marketing.
