Spain announced at WTM that it continues to be Britains favourite tourist destination and 2014 has been no exception.
p>Spain announced at WTM that it continues to be Britains favourite tourist destination and 2014 has been no exception.
Between January and September, the destination saw a 7.4% increase in visitors when compared to 2013, with more than 52.4 million international visitors. In September alone, Spain welcomed more than seven million international visitors, up 8.1% year-on-year, while tourism expenditure grew by 6.8%, with a total spend of ?7.1billion.
Over the coming year, Spain is set to continue to expand and evolve with the launch of new airline routes, hotel developments and attractions and events.
In terms of hotel news, Palladium Hotel Group is expanding in Madrid with a new property under its urban brand, Ayre Hoteles, scheduled to open at the end of 2015, while Spanish hotel chain, Vincci Hotels, is set to open a new four-star hotel in Valencia early next year.
Meanwhile, access to Spain is to become even easier next year with the launch of British Airways' new double daily service from Heathrow to Bilbao from March 29. The carrier is also launching new twice-weekly flights from Gatwick to Fuerteventura from December 13 as part of its winter 2014 programme.
Monarch Airlines has also announced new flights to Alicante for next summer from Leeds Bradford. The new route forms part of the airline's summer schedule which features flights to ten different sun and city destinations across Europe and 28 frequencies per week.
In terms of events, Tenerife's Walking Festival will take place from March 10-15, 2015 and aims to showcase the Canary Island's varied landscape and year-round temperature. The four-day event, which takes place in the north of the island in Puerto de la Cruz, is open to all and visitors are required to pay a ?20 joining fee to access a welcome pack, daily transport to each trail, a wristband that gives discounts in local shops, restaurants and museums and free nightly entertainment.
