The tourism sector confirms that 2023 stands out as a record year for international visitors, at least through November. With December data still pending, the Valencian Community welcomed a remarkable influx that surpassed all pre-2020 records, driven especially by the Costa Blanca, which accounts for about seven-tenths of this activity across the autonomous region.
According to figures published this Wednesday by the National Statistics Institute, eleven months brought in 9.77 million international visitors to the Community, representing a 20.68% rise above the national average and an 18.24% jump in international tourist spending to 79.8 million. This marks the highest annual total to date, exceeding the 9.5 million international arrivals recorded in all of 2019 (INE data, 2023).
Given Alicante province’s pivotal role in this market segment, the Costa Blanca hosted around 6.8 million visitors in the first eleven months, hinting at a final approach to 7 million. This performance surpasses the pre-pandemic peak of 6.2 million recorded in the year prior to the outbreak (INE, 2023).
When spending is analyzed, the outlook becomes even brighter. The yearly growth in expenditure exceeds 23 percent, driven by more visitors and higher prices amid inflation. Foreign tourists spent 11.738 million euros across the autonomous Community through November, well above the 10.103 million recorded the previous year. On the national level, international tourism revenue stands at 101.569 million euros (INE data, 2023).
In Alicante specifically, the latest figures show an injection of more than 8.2 billion euros into the provincial economy, surpassing last year’s 6.9 billion. Although visitor numbers remain below their peak, the total spending already exceeds levels seen in 2019 due to higher average prices (INE data, 2023).
Less average expense
When examining daily spending, the Valencian Community still trails the national average. On average, each international visitor spends about 126 euros per day there, compared with 177 euros nationwide. Madrid leads profitability at approximately 297 euros per day, followed by Catalonia with 210 euros, the Balearic Islands with 189 euros, and Andalusia with 154 euros (INE data, 2023).
Benidorm has emerged as a peak destination at year’s end, attracting longer stays. The average length of stay in the Community stands at 9.5 days, versus 7.18 days across the country and 5.7 days spent by visitors in the capital city for those holidaying in the autonomous region (INE data, 2023).
Regarding origins, the United Kingdom remains the leading international source for Spain’s tourism sector. A total of 16.4 million Britons visited Spain by November, reflecting a growth of about 14.4%. France ranks second with a 16.5% increase, totaling 10.99 million visitors nationwide through November. Germany comes next with 10.2 million visitors and a 9.9% rise, while Nordic countries contribute 4.5 million tourists in the same eleven-month period, up 13.5% (INE data, 2023).
Evaluation
Federico Fuster, president of the Valencian Community’s main hotel association, Hosbec, describes the year as extraordinary and emphasizes that international travelers are exactly what sustains destinations like Benidorm, supporting occupancy throughout the year and driving employment and regional activity in contrast to other areas facing tougher conditions.
He also notes encouraging prospects for the coming year, expecting continued growth in arrivals. Fuster believes profitability will rise further, even as higher income impacts are not yet fully offset by increased costs in food and labor within the sector.
Overall, the data point to a year when international tourism in the Valencian Community, and particularly in the Costa Blanca, reinforced its role as a major economic engine, with occupancy and spending translating into tangible activity across the regional economy (INE data, 2023).