Growth in the economic return from tourism in the city
The city closed out 2023 with over 12 million tourists having stayed in hotels, tourist lets and hostels. While the figure is 6.9% lower than in 2019, the economic return for the city was greater thanks to an increase of 1.8% in overnights stays (35.9 million), the average duration of stays (from 2.7 to 3 nights) and the amount spent per visitor.
The tourism balance for 2023, compiled by the Department for Studies at the Manager’s Office for Economy and Economic Promotion, puts tourist spending in the city at 9,600 million euros. The figure is up 26.1% compared to last year and 14.7% higher than in 2019, the year before the pandemic. Spending at bars and restaurants in 2023 was up by 56.9% compared to 2019.
Occupancy rates came out at 68.9% in hotels, 54.6% for tourist lets and 66.5% for hostels. Profitability for hotels averaged 159 euros, up 21.6% compared to the year of the pandemic.
Main international destination in the Spanish state
Barcelona consolidated its position as the favourite destination in the Spanish state among foreign visitors, with 80.8% of tourists staying in accommodation in the city of international origin. US visitors accounted for the largest number, with over a million tourists staying in the city (up by 5.3%), followed by the UK, France, Italy and Germany. The biggest drop in visitors came among the Japanese and Russians, down by 53.4% and 64.5% respectively.
Nearly 130,000 job contracts were signed in the tourist sector in 2023, and for the first time ever, more than half of these were permanent contracts. The number of unemployed in this sector is below 7,000, the second lowest figures since 2007.
