The economic impact of tourism in the province of Barcelona reached a total of 12.4 million euros in 2023. This represents a growth of 21% compared to the previous year, according to a report from Barcelona City Council, the Provincial Council of Barcelona, the Barcelona Chamber and the Barcelona Tourism Consortium.
The province of Barcelona received 26 million tourists, 12.3% more than the previous year, which had 99 million overnight stays. The regions of Barcelona, excluding Barcelona city, received 10.3 million tourists, 7.1% more than in 2022, who obtained 37.7 million overnight stays, 2.4% more year-on-year. These tourists generated an impact of 2.7 million euros, 5.7% more than in 2022.
The Tourism Deputy of the Barcelona Provincial Council, Abigail Garrido, has defended that the data shows the weight of tourism in the economy and “the importance of taking care of it.”
Spain, main tourist destination
Regarding European tourism, Spain has been recognized as the best summer and winter tourist destination in the Irish Travel Industry Awards. This event, which celebrates the Irish tourism sector, coincides with the country’s most important fair, the Holiday World Show in Dublin. In addition, the Turespaña tourism department in Dublin has been recognized as the best provider of services to the tourism sector.
This recognition from the Irish sector to Spain and the Turespaña Office in Dublin comes at the best time of the recovery of tourism from Ireland to Spain, with a year-on-year growth in the number of travelers of 18.6% and another 13.8% above of the figures since the pandemic.
In addition, tourist spending by the Irish, with the second highest European per capita income after Luxembourg, has increased by 18.7% in 2023 compared to last year and 29.5% compared to 2019, placing Ireland as one of the European markets that have grown the most among all the issuing markets to Spain.
