With 82 million visitors in 2017 Spain has surpassed the United States to become the world’s second most visited country after France stated the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy during a visit to Italy.
There has been nine percent increase over the last year despite the terror attack and the growing political crisis in Catalonia.
On the sidelines of a southern European summit on migration in Rome Rajoy said that tourism earnings rose 12 percent, totaling 87 billion euros ($104 billion).
In 2016, Spain welcomed 75.3 million visitors and was behind the United States with 75.6 million. France despite facing terror woes remained the world leader with 82.6 million visitors as per the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
According to the US International Trade Administration international tourism to the United States shrank during the first five months of Donald Trump’s presidency.
The official figures revealed that the arrivals fell five percent in the first quarter and three percent in the second quarter.
Despite jihadist attacks in the Catalonia capital Barcelona and nearby Cambrils last August that left 16 dead the arrival in Spain beat records for the fifth consecutive year.
The Madrid-based UNWTO figures for 2017 will be released on Monday.
Tags: Cambrils, catalonia, Mariano Rajoy, spain, UNWTO
