Foreign tourists continue to show a growing interest in spending their holidays in the country. An extensive analysis conducted by Semrush, the leading platform in online visibility management and content marketing, revealed that Andalusia, the Canary Islands, and the Balearic Islands are autonomous Communities of foreign tourists.

This study, from June 2023 to June 2024, is based on internet searches made by tourists from the six central countries that send tourists to Spain: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States.

The Semrush analysis shows a general increase in interest in visiting Spain compared to the previous year, recording an 11.3% growth in online searches for visiting the country’s different regions. Dutch tourists showed the highest percentage growth, with a 25% increase and a monthly average of 73,919 searches. The United Kingdom follows them with a monthly average of 256,775 searches, representing a 22.4% increase, Germany with 276,170 searches and a 19.1% increase, and the United States with 365,776 searches and a 17.3% increase.

This increase in tourism from the United States confirms the interest of these visitors not only as tourists but also as investors in Andalusia and the Costa del Sol, as analyzed by The Agency’s Annual Real Estate Market Report on Marbella and the Costa del Sol.

Regarding the rise in American tourism to Andalusia, particularly to the province of Malaga, Leif Orthmann, Managing Partner of The Agency, notes that “in Marbella, the growing interest of American buyers and international hotel brands underscores the global appeal of the city and its reputation as a safe and luxurious destination. These developments are crucial for investors choosing Marbella, as they highlight both the immediate appeal of the region and its long-term investment potential.”

When considering Spain’s relative popularity based on the population of each country, the Netherlands stands out with 434.82 searches per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by France with 401.87 searches, the United Kingdom with 383.25 searches, Italy with 377.46 searches, Germany with 332.74 searches, and the United States with 110.50 searches per 100,000 inhabitants.

The Semrush study also details the autonomous communities that tourists from each country prefer. The Canary Islands are the favorite destination among British, Italian, Dutch, and American tourists, while Andalusia is the top choice for French and German tourists. Other popular autonomous communities include the Balearic Islands, the Basque Country, Catalonia, and Galicia.

• United Kingdom: British tourists show great interest in the Canary Islands, with an average of 126,615 monthly searches. The Balearic Islands followed with 28,408 searches, while Andalusia had 18,854 searches.
• France: The French prefer Andalusia, with an average of 76,554 searches per month, the Basque Country with 71,846, and Galicia with 22,962. There is also a notable 84.1% increase in searches over the last year related to the Balearic Islands, with a monthly average of 5,669 searches.
• Germany: Andalusia is the favorite destination for German tourists, with 101,885 monthly searches. The Canary Islands follow, with 56,615 searches, and Catalonia with 22,654.
• Italy: The Canary Islands also attract Italian tourists, with an average of 58,962 searches per month. Andalusia comes second with 50,115 searches, and the Balearic Islands are third with 23,238.
• Netherlands: The Dutch are most interested in the Canary Islands, with 44,369 monthly searches. They are followed by the Basque Country with 10,023 and the Balearic Islands with 3,477.
• United States: The Canary Islands are also the most searched community by American tourists, with an average of 141,923 monthly searches. Next is Andalusia, with 44,485, and Catalonia, with 37,485. Navarra and Galicia also stand out with increases of 123.8% and 82.4%, respectively, with total monthly searches of 23,869 and 27,085.