The end of the Arab Spring effect on Spain’s tourism industry

More tourists so far than last year, but a downward move in traditionally important markets for Spain’s tourism sector. The accumulate figures this year from January to April indicate a rise of 1.1 percent in foreign tourists, with a total of 13.7 million, coming to Spain comparing to the same period in 2011. But April brought a fall in numbers by 4.5 million or 1.7 percent less foreign tourists in contrast with March.

Tourists from Germany have increased in the last four months by 5.6 percent, as the French have done, too, by 2.2 percent. The British, though, registered a fall by 12.9 percent, while northern European countries negative trend was even higher, at 15.3 percent.

Would it be there a reason for the tourism industry in Spain to worry? Analysts in Madrid said not yet. In their Monday’s notes, investment reports explained that numbers are just stabilising after the spike lived in 2011 due to the social and political upheaval in part of the Arab world. The benchmark would be the 2009 levels.