Downturn still hurting Spanish tourism

The number of foreign visitors in Spain slid 6.1 per cent year-on-year in July to 6.6 million, the tourism ministry said, but the fall was lower than the previous two months. Tourist arrivals were 10 per cent less in June than a year ago and 11.7 per...

The number of foreign visitors in Spain slid 6.1 per cent year-on-year in July to 6.6 million, the tourism ministry said, but the fall was lower than the previous two months.

Tourist arrivals were 10 per cent less in June than a year ago and 11.7 per cent lower in May.

Tourism, which accounts for 11 per cent of Spain's Gross Domestic Product, has been hit by the global financial crisis since the end of last year.

According to the World Tourism Organisation, Spain has been overtaken by the United States as the second most visited country after France. Britons are the top visitors in Spain, followed by the French and the Germans.

A total of 30.2 million people visited Spain in the first seven months of the year - a 10.3 decline over the corresponding period in 2008.

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