The number of Chinese tourists to Spain increased by 207% in the first quarter of 2024
The number of Chinese tourists visiting Spain in the first quarter of 2024 experienced a significant year-on-year growth of 207.3% compared to the same period last year. This is the conclusion of a study by Turespaña based on data from the INE. In terms of air connectivity, 2023 saw an excellent recovery in direct flights between Spain and China, with direct flights between Spain and China already exceeding 2019 air capacities by 49.8% in spring 2024.
Throughout 2023, China showed signs of economic recovery, with a 5.2% growth in GDP, significantly higher than the previous year's 3%. Although this represented an improvement, growth was still below pre-pandemic levels, reflecting a still fragile economic recovery, according to the Turespaña study. In terms of tourism, and in a context of gradual recovery, in 2023 Spain recovered half of the volume of arrivals recorded in 2019, although the average expenditure per traveller grew by 20% compared to that year. By the autumn of 2023, a more consolidated recovery could be detected, and the months of January and February 2024 saw a 19% increase in tourist arrivals to Spain compared to 2019. This upward trend continued resulting in a positive spring-summer season.
In terms of air connectivity, 2023 recorded an excellent recovery in direct flights between Spain and China, already exceeding in spring 2024 the air capacities of 2019 by 49.8%, and showing the greatest recovery among its competitor destinations.
In 2023, the Chinese market, after overcoming the restrictions still imposed the previous year, still closed with very high year-on-year percentage changes due to the rebound effect after the extraordinary measures against covid-19 in the past. The number of tourists increased by 574.7% and expenditure by 388.3%; overnight stays grew by 122.3%. However, these figures are still far below pre-pandemic levels and there is still much room for improvement on the road to the return to full normalisation of Chinese tourist flows.
382,000 visitors from China in 2023
In 2023, 382,000 Chinese tourists travelled to Spain, representing 0.4% of the total number of tourists received, spending an estimated 1.13 billion euros (1% of the total). The average expenditure per person and per day was €2,958 and €288, respectively, while the average stay was 10.3 nights.
Last year, 65% of Chinese tourists travelled to our country for leisure, while 28% said they visited for professional reasons. Most travelled without a package tour (87%) and stayed almost exclusively in hotels (91%). Their main destinations were Catalonia (49%) and the Community of Madrid (30%). The average age of the Chinese tourist visiting Spain was 37.4, i.e. almost seven years younger than the average international tourist (44.1 years old). 95% per cent of Chinese tourists had a higher education, and 53% belonged to the middle class. The main reasons for visiting were shopping (62%) and for cultural and city visits (both 61%).