Visits from United Kingdom residents increased by 12.4%, from France by 7.1% and 6.4% from Germany.
Cataluña was the most popular destination in 2016, with 18 million tourists, 4% more than in 2015. This was followed by the Canary Isles (with 13.million and an increase of 13.2%) and the Balearic Islands (with 13 million and an increase of 11.9%). Andalucía received 10.6 million tourists (12.8% more than in 2015), the Comunidad Valenciana 7.8 million (16.6% more) and the Comunidad de Madrid with 5.7 million (an increase of 13.5%).
As regards the means of entry into Spain, 60.6 million tourists came by plane, an increase of 11.7% and 13.0 million entered by road, 4,4% more.
In terms of accommodation, that on the market was used by 59.4 million tourists (11.7% more) and not on the market by 16.1 million (5.3% more).
The main motive for people coming to Spain in 2016 was for entertainment, recreation and holidays. 64.4 million people came for these reasons, with an annual growth of 10.1%. 4.7 million people came for business and professional reasons (0.7% less) and 6.5 million (22,6% more) for other reasons..
The most usual length of stay amongst tourists in 2016 was between 4 and 7 nights, for more than 35 million tourists, an increase of 9.7%. As to the organisations used by travellers, 52.8 million tourists arrived in Spain as not part of a package deal, 8.3% more than in 2015) and 22.8 million came on a package holiday (15.1% more).