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This work is published on the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The
opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views
of the OECD or of the governments of its member countries or those of the European Union.
This document and any map included herein are without prejudice to the status of or
sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to
the name of any territory, city or area.

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Spain
Tourism in the economy
Tourism is one of the mainstays of the Spanish economy and an outstanding driver of
social development. It accounts for almost 11% of Spains GDP and 11.8% of employment.
Thanks to modest growth year on year, tourism continues to contribute substantially to
offsetting the countrys trade deficit. With 57.7 million foreign visitors (+2.7% over 2011)
and EUR 43.3 billion in international tourism receipts (+1.2%), Spain consolidated its
position in 2012 as the fourth largest destination worldwide in terms of arrivals, and the
second largest in terms of receipts.
In the same year, tourism expenditure overall was nearly EUR 55.6 billion (+5.7%
compared with 2011) and Spain maintained its position as the leader in the European Union
ranking in terms of hotel overnight volume, with 280 million bednights recorded. The
tourism unemployment rate was 17.9%, as against the national rate of 25%. Overall, trends in
inbound tourism in 2012 were positive and, according to data from the Institute for Tourism
Studies (IET), the trend continued in 2013.

Tourism organisation and governance

Tourism comes under the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism through the offices
of the State Secretariat for Tourism (Figure 1). The State Secretariat is responsible for
defining, developing co-ordinating and implementing tourism policy that falls within the
sphere of the central governments responsibility, as well as institutional relations at
national and international level.
The Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespaa) is the administrative unit of central
government charged with promoting Spain abroad as a tourism destination. It has
33 offices worldwide, which are part of Spains embassies and consulates. Turespaa
operates in the following areas:

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Planning, developing and carrying out activities aimed at promoting Spain as a tourism
destination in international markets.

Supporting the marketing of Spanish tourism products abroad in co-operation with

regional and local authorities and the private sector.

Undertaking research to determine the different influences on tourism, gathering

statistical information and data on the tourism sector, and creating, disseminating
and co-ordinating knowledge and intelligence on tourism generated by the various
administrative units.

Establishing the strategy, plan of action and investments for new Spanish paradors
(Paradores de Turismo de Espaa).

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Figure 1. Spain: Organisational chart of tourism bodies

Inter-Ministry
Committee
for Tourism

Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism

The Sectorial
Tourism
Conference

State Secretariat for Tourism

Department for Co-operation

and Tourism Competitiveness

The Spanish
Tourism Board
Department for Tourism Development
and Sustainability

Turespaas
Advisory Council

State Company for Innovation

and Tourism Technology
Management (SEGITTUR)

Spain Institute for Tourism

(Turespaa)

Department of Marketing

Department of Knowledge
and Tourism Studies
State Network of Tourist Establishments
and Facilities
(Paradores de Turismo de Espaa)

Spanish Tourist Offices

Department of Strategy and Services

Department of Services Administration

and Technology
Source: OECD, adapted from the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, 2014.

Under the Spanish Constitution, the autonomous regions are responsible for the
promotion and regulation of tourism within their own territories. The states role is in
international relations, the promotion and marketing of tourism abroad, tourism policy,
and the overall regulation of tourism activity, in addition to national economic planning in
which tourism is a key component.
Local entities (provinces and municipalities) manage their own tourism interests at
the local level, mainly in terms of promotion and dissemination of information. One
important body is the Patronato de Turismo (mostly in the main cities), on which the
Congress Offices depend, and which in turn support the private sector in their commercial
strategies to attract congresses and fairs. This distribution of powers creates a network of
inter-administrative relations and various instruments of co-operation in tourism matters.
Co-operation is key to ensuring maximum operational effectiveness.
The Paradores de Turismo de Espaa is a state company under the control of the Spanish
Tourism Institute, whose principal function is the management and operation of stateowned properties mostly historic buildings that have been purpose-adapted as hotels.
The concept has proved enormously successful in recovering and conserving Spains
historical heritage. There are currently 93 paradors in operation.
Four other tourism-related bodies should be mentioned:

The Inter-Ministerial Committee for Tourism (Comisin Interministerial de Turismo) is a

collegiate, advisory and executive co-ordination body whose members represent those
national ministries that have responsibility for tourism-related matters.

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The Sectoral Tourism Conference (Conferencia Sectorial de Turismo) is the collegiate,

advisory and executive co-ordination body, which brings together public representatives
from central government and the autonomous regions with tourism responsibilities.

The Spanish Tourism Board (Consejo Espaol de Turismo CONESTUR) is an advisory body,
which brings together all the territorial tourism administrations (state, regions and
provinces/cities) and the private sector (i.e. chambers of trade, the National Employers
Association (CEOE), professional associations, trade unions and a wide spectrum of
tourism professionals).

Turespaas Advisory Council (Consejo Asesor de Turespaa) is an advisory board

established in 2013 to enhance collaboration with the private sector. It comprises eleven
members, five of whom come from the private sector.

Tourism budgets
Under the Constitution, the autonomous regions operate autonomously and rely on
their own budgets, so they do not directly affect the state budget or national taxation.
At the national level, the current (2013) budget for the State Secretariat for Tourism is
EUR 394 million (compared with EUR 518 million in 2012), the budget for Turespaa is
EUR 83 million (EUR 97.8 million in 2012), and the budget for tourism promotion is
EUR 43 million (EUR 53.6 million).
The main sources of funding for Turespaa are the paradors (EUR 9 million),
commercial transactions (EUR 4.8 million), financial support (in the form of refunds) from
the Spanish tourist offices abroad, and the ministry (EUR 69 million).

Tourism-related policies and programmes

The current National Tourism Plan (2012-15), the Plan Nacional e Integral de Turismo
(PNIT), is managed through the Secretara de Estado de Turismo. It was designed as a set of
measures to boost the competitiveness of Spanish tourism enterprises and destinations,
renew Spains world tourism leadership for the coming decades, and contribute towards
the generation of wealth, employment and well-being for the nation.
The PNIT was developed in response to the needs of the tourism sector, namely:

Leadership, in terms of bringing together all stakeholders and resources in a common

endeavour.

Public-private collaboration, ensuring alignment in policy development and decisionmaking, as well as the funding of tourism promotion.

Across-the-board policies and strategies, involving all government departments and

agencies at local, regional, national and European level.

An institutional structure and framework to boost the competitiveness of tourism

enterprises, harmonising legislation across the whole national territory.

A country- and sector-wide tourism strategy and policies based on an innovative vision
of Spain as a tourism destination.
The seven key objectives of the PNIT are to: boost tourism and the profitability of

the sector; generate quality employment; encourage market unity; improve Spains
international positioning; enhance the cohesion and notoriety of Brand Spain; encourage

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public-private co-responsibility; and reduce tourism seasonality. In line with these goals,
the PNIT focuses on three key measures: promote knowledge, entrepreneurship and
training; improve Spains tourism offer; and diversify demand.
This new strategy requires innovation, new marketing and business models; the
sustainable management of destinations; new forms of communication; and an emphasis on
customer welfare in the broadest sense, with special attention to health and the environment.
Brand Spain acts as a lever to improve the overall brand image of the country not just as
a tourism destination and to enhance awareness and positive perceptions. Co-ordination
and co-operation between the main players in Spains tourism industry, as well as with all
other stakeholders, are key to building and promoting Brand Spain for the benefit of the
industry, government and local communities. The tourism sector plays an important role in
this initiative. A new marketing strategy was adopted in 2012, providing a methodology for
prioritising investment by individual markets, products and segments, as well as for
pursuing differentiated positioning in the various segments targeted.
Reducing seasonality: The negative effect of seasonality on Spains tourism performance
is reflected in the use of tourism infrastructure, the fast turnover of staff, and the declining
service quality. This requires urgent measures to incentivise low-season demand for travel in
and to Spain. AENA (Aeropuertos Nacionales y Navegacin Area), the state body responsible for
airports, has been tasked with developing a new, flexible scheme for airport landing and
other charges, based on the number of travellers and the capacity of each airport it manages.
Visa facilitation: Given the strong growth in demand for tourist visas from emerging
markets, as well as their future growth potential, the Spanish government is looking at
ways of simplifying visa processing and ensuring faster delivery of visas. The aim is to
optimise visa services, enhance tourism demand from markets that require visas, reduce
bureaucracy, and cut costs.
New legal and fiscal measures are being considered to improve the tourism operating
environment especially in small towns that attract unsustainable numbers of tourists at
peak times of the year to avoid the commoditisation of tourism products, and to help
Spanish businesses and destinations reshape and adapt their tourism offer to meet the
needs of new, niche markets and segments.
In addition, in a move to improve the competitiveness of Spains tourism products, a
uniform system of classification and categorisation of hotels, rural establishments and
camping sites is being developed. Regional governments will be encouraged to adopt the
homogenous rating system for the benefit of the countrys tourism overall.
Other measures include leveraging the cultural wine-making and gastronomic
heritage of Spain, which is a major attraction for tourists, and which helps to differentiate
Spains tourism offer from that of its competitors. The aim is to increase awareness of the
local cuisine and wines of different regions and develop appropriate tour products to
attract new business.
In an effort to stimulate the development of innovative tourism projects by young
entrepreneurs, credit lines are being opened by government, facilitating their access to
financing at better-than-market rates. In addition, the necessary tools will be made
available to enterprises and entrepreneurs to help them identify new opportunities and
draw up their business plans.

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However, the tourism sector is influenced by decisions and actions undertaken across
all government departments, e.g. with regard to visas, airport fees, land-use planning,
historical and cultural heritage. Yet, traditionally, legislative initiatives have shown little
sensitivity regarding their repercussions for tourism. For this reason, a new legal
requirement has been proposed to ensure that all regulatory proposals whether from the
EU, the Spanish national government, regional or local government include an analysis of
their potential impact on the tourism sector.
Existing surveys on national statistics, etc. are being reviewed and re-oriented in line
with the needs of the industry in order to strengthen IETs leadership position in the field
and align its position more closely with that of Turespaa, as well as reducing costs and
responding to pressures from the regional observatories.

Statistical profile
Table 1. Spain: Domestic tourism
Total domestic trips
Overnight visitors (tourists)
Same-day visitors (excursionists)
Trips by main purpose of visit
Business and professional
Holiday, leisure and recreation
Nights in all means of accommodation
Hotels and similar establishments
Other collective establishments
Domestic travel receipts

Unit

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Thousand

..
157 615
..

..
154 995
..

..
145 477
..

..
147 408
..

..
146 554
..

..
..
681 694
..
..
..

..
..
674 735
..
..
..

..
..
636 415
..
..
..

..
..
649 479
..
..
..

..
..
642 337
..
..
..

Thousand

Source: Institute of Tourism Studies (IET).

1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932989133

Table 2. Spain: Inbound tourism

Total international arrivals
Overnight visitors (tourists)1
Same-day visitors (excursionists)
Top markets
United Kingdom
Germany
France
Italy
Netherlands
Nights in all means of accommodation
Hotels and similar establishments
Other collective establishments
Total international receipts
International travel receipts
International passenger transport receipts

Unit
Thousand

2008
97 670

2009
91 899

2010
93 744

2011
99 187

2012
99 195

Thousand

57 192

52 178

52 677

56 177

57 701

Thousand

40 478

39 722

41 067

43 010

41 495

Thousand
Thousand
Thousand
Thousand
Thousand

15 775
10 063
8 149
3 354
2 480
..
..
..
47 646
41 901
5 745

13 297
8 935
7 955
3 188
2 089
..
..
..
42 718
38 125
4 593

12 440
8 814
8 125
3 490
2 276
..
..
..
44 797
39 621
5 176

13 615
8 975
8 375
3 765
2 772
..
..
..
48 477
43 026
5 451

13 654
9 336
8 969
3 572
2 549
..
..
..
49 190
43 306
5 884

Million EUR
Million EUR
Million EUR

1. Number of tourists at border.

Source: Institute of Tourism Studies (IET) and Bank of Spain.
1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932989152

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Table 3. Spain: Outbound tourism

Unit
Total international departures
Overnight visitors (tourists)
Same-day visitors (excursionists)
Total international expenditure
International travel expenditure
International passenger transport expenditure

Thousand
Million EUR
Million EUR
Million EUR

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

..
11 229
..
18 467
13 834
4 633

..
12 017
..
16 294
12 086
4 208

..
12 379
..
17 162
12 663
4 499

..
13 347
..
16 955
12 349
4 606

..
12 185
..
16 958
11 911
5 047

Source: Institute of Tourism Studies (IET) and Bank of Spain.

1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932989171

Table 4. Spain: Enterprises in tourism

Number of establishments
2008
430 560 |
..

2009
433 634
..

2010
426 977
..

2011
426 993
..

2012
425 719
..

Accommodation services for visitors1

Hotels and similar establishments

22 603 |

23 079

22 924

23 288

23 393

..

..

..

..

Food and beverage serving industry2

266 615 |

267 597

266 690

264 146

262 420

86 231 |

85 731

81 618

83 345

82 997

..
..
..
..
..
..
10 970 |
..
..
..
44 141 |
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
11 028
..
..
..
46 199
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
10 895
..
..
..
44 850
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
10 992
..
..
..
45 222
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
11 184
..
..
..
45 725
..

Total tourism enterprises

Tourism industries

Passenger transport3
Air passenger transport
Railways passenger transport
Road passenger transport
Water passenger transport
Passenger transport supporting services
Transport equipment rental
Travel agencies and other reservation services industry
Cultural industry
Sports and recreation industry
Retail trade of country-specific tourism characteristic goods
Other country-specific tourism industries
Other industries

..

Note: Break in series. Since 2008, NACE Rev. 2 classification.

1. Includes hotels, campsites and other provision of short stay accommodation.
2. Includes restaurants, bars and canteens.
3. Break in series. Since 2008, excludes freight.
Source: National Institute for Statistics.
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Table 5. Spain: Employment in tourism

Number of employees

Total tourism employment (direct)

Tourism industries
Accommodation services for visitors1
Hotels and similar establishments
Food and beverage serving industry

2008
2 193 514 |
..

2009
2 143 119
..

2010
2 120 404
..

2011
2 132 034
..

2012
2 039 255
..

1 452 534 |

1 421 182

1 370 266

1 391 942

1 322 138

..
..

..
..

..
..

..
..

329 247

331 056

321 592

303 433

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

392 689

419 081

418 503

413 683

53
47

54
47

54
46

55
45

..
..

Passenger transport2, 3
Air passenger transport
Railways passenger transport
Road passenger transport
Water passenger transport
Passenger transport supporting services
Transport equipment rental
Travel agencies and other reservation services industry
Cultural industry
Sports and recreation industry
Retail trade of country-specific tourism characteristic goods
Other country-specific tourism industries

332 380 |
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..

Other industries4
Gender breakdown
Male (% of total tourism employment)
Female (% of total tourism employment)

408 600 |
52
48

Note: Break in series. Since 2008, NACE Rev. 2 classification.

1. Hotels and restaurants.
2. Break in series. Since 2008, excludes freight.
3. Includes travel agencies and tour operators.
4. Other services.
Source: Labour Force Survey (EPA).
1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932989209

Table 6. Spain: Internal tourism consumption

Million EUR, 2008

Total
Consumption products
Tourism characteristic products
Accommodation services for visitors
Food and beverage serving services
Passenger transport services
Air passenger transport services
Railways passenger transport services
Road passenger transport services
Water passenger transport services
Passenger transport supporting services
Transport equipment rental services
Travel agencies and other reservation services
Cultural services1
Sports and recreation services
Country-specific tourism characteristic goods
Country-specific tourism characteristic services
Other consumption products
Tourism connected products
Non-tourism related consumption products
Non-consumption products

Domestic tourism consumption

53 923
..
..
16 513
14 506
6 656
..
..
..
..
..
..
3 384

Inbound tourism consumption

51 736
..
..
12 464
13 529
7 107
..
..
..
..
..
..
418

Internal tourism consumption

120 889
..
..
32 445
28 764
20 013
..
..
..
..
..
..
6 043

1 557

1 272

3 748

..
..
..
11 307
..
..
..

..
..
..
16 946
..
..
..

..
..
..
29 876
..
..
..

1. Includes recreation and other entertainment services.

Source: National Institute for Statistics, Tourism Satellite Account.
1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932989228

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For more information

Spain Ministry for Industry, Energy and Tourism
Spain Institute for Tourism Turespaa
Spain official tourism portal
Spanish Institute for Tourism Studies
Spanish National Institute for Statistics

OECD TOURISM TRENDS AND POLICIES 2014 OECD 2014

www.minetur.gob.es
www.tourspain.es
www.spain.info
www.iet.tourspain.es
www.ine.es

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