- Business
- Childbirth & Education
- Legal Formalities
- Motoring
- Other
- Pensions & Benefits
- Property & Accommodation
- Taxes
- Airports and Airlines Spain
- Paramount Theme Park Murcia Spain
- Corvera International Airport Murcia Spain
- Join us for Tea on the Terrace
- When Expat Eyes Are Smiling
- Meet Wincham at The Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Show, Calpe
- QROPS 2014
- Spain Increases IHT in Valencia & Murcia
- Removals to Spain v Exports from Spain
- The Charm of Seville
- Gibraltar Relations
- Retiro Park : Madrid
- Community Insurance in Spain
- Calendar Girls
- Considerations when Insuring your Boat in Spain
- QROPS – HMRC Introduces changes that create havoc in the market place
- QROPS – All Change From April 2012
- Liva & Laia : 15th November
A little over a week ago the The Instituto de Estudios Turisticos (National Institute of Tourism) reported how Expenditure by Foreign Visitors was up for the month of April.
Apparently, the amount spent by Tourists was up by a significant amount – both for the Year-on-Year figures and Year-to-Date – when compared to 2012.
Furthermore, the month previously they had also gone one step beyond this and reported the amount spent by Foreign visitors of specific nationalities.
Now, I’m not wishing to accuse the Institute of deluding themselves (and Tour Operators), or that they are looking to instigate some kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, but I have to question this news on 6 levels.
1.) I can’t personally ever recall being asked my nationality when ordering a Cafe-con-leche in a bar (Spanish-owned or otherwise), so how exactly is the Institute of Tourism able to make such an assumption of ‘Spend per Nationality’. Worse still, what has Nationality even got to do with it ? British Nationals resident in one area of Spain might still wish to take a Holiday in a different area.
2.) Even if the Institute does go through the motions in gathering its information from Coastal Bars and Restaurants, to what degree would it be accurate ? These industries have obviously been feeling the pinch in the current financial crisis – Might I be allowed to assume that a certain percentage of takings from such foreign visitors would be ‘in the black’ ?
3.) Surely record expenditure would be reflected in an increase in Employment figures in the services sector ? Sure, it was reported yesterday that the month of May saw some decline in unemployment, but the National Institute of Tourism report was referring to the month April, when unemployment figures remained flat.
4.) Surely an increase in Tourism Expenditure must have been an indirect result of an increase in Foreign Visitor Numbers ? – Yet this was not supported by any statistics by AENA.
5.) I can’t say that I have particularly noticed that April – or the opening months of 2013 – were particularly busy ?
6.) The National Institute of Statistics (INE) reported that Non-Hotel based accommodation in Spain decreased by 18.3% Year-on-Year in April 2013 – so (Assuming that Statistics from both agencies is correct) this must mean that the Extra expenditure seen in Spain for April 2013 came from an increase in Foreign Visitors who either all stayed in Hotel Accommodation, stayed with friends or slept rough.
Aside from which Agency, or set of statistics, to believe it seems like yet a further case of “lies, damned lies and statistics”.
Recommended Reading
•
Spain : Tourism Expenditure for April 2013
•
Mr Grumpy V Spain and Statistics
•
Spain sees food tourism explosion
- Removals to Spain v Exports from Spain
- Lorca Earthquakes 2 Year Anniversary
- 15-M : 2 Years on
- Alicante Airport : Two Fingers up to Corvera ?
- On (or abouts) this day in history
- " Immigrants in Glass Houses...."
- El Gordo Christmas Lottery : Facts and Superstitions
- Loving the Irony Of Banking Woes
- Spain Joins The European Bailout Club, But Why?
- Taking a Dog from Spain to the UK : A personal experience
- Fiestas in Spain
- Applying for your Spanish prescription charge reimbursement
- Help For Victims of Domestic Violence In Spain
- Dangerous Dogs in Spain
- Currency Exchange Jargon Explained
- How to Register on the Padron
- How to vote in the Spanish Elections
- Applying for Residential status (Residencia) - EU Citizens
- How to Choose a Dentist in Spain
- Getting Married in Spain
- Can I claim compensation if my flight to Spain is cancelled or delayed ?
- Glossary of useful Legal, Financial & Procedural Phrases
- Join us for Tea on the Terrace
- When Expat Eyes Are Smiling
- Meet Wincham at The Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Show, Calpe
- QROPS 2014
- Spain Increases IHT in Valencia & Murcia
- Removals to Spain v Exports from Spain
- The Charm of Seville
- Gibraltar Relations
- Retiro Park : Madrid
- Community Insurance in Spain
- Calendar Girls
- Considerations when Insuring your Boat in Spain
- QROPS – HMRC Introduces changes that create havoc in the market place
- QROPS – All Change From April 2012
- Liva & Laia : 15th November
- Thinking of Buying In Spain ? :Then Take The Safe Purchase Test !
- Are You Paying Too Much For Your Telephone Line Rental ?
- Spain's new UK mobile phone service
- Our most popular Funeral Plan FAQ's
- Why Plan your Funeral now ?