- EDITIONS:
Spanish News Today
Alicante Today
Andalucia Today
PROPERTY SEARCH
Murcia's British expat and tourism markets experience a boom in numbers in 2024
Overall tourist visitor numbers to Murcia are on the up
Murcia has been experiencing a huge boom in terms of tourism numbers, research has found.
Findings published by Frontur Survey from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), which revealed that the region had experienced a 16.4% increase over the first six months of this year, with visitor figures totalling 475,639. As a result, it made the community the fourth highest in terms of tourism growth.
The report also found that Murcia was able to benefit from a significant boost to its economy, with a total of 659.2 million euros having been generated. This had placed it third-highest in terms of economic impact from tourism, with a 34.9% increase having been experienced from the same time period in 2023.
Brits lead the tourism boom in Murcia
Unsurprisingly, British visitors were said to be the leaders in terms of tourism, with around 30% of the total coming from Great Britain. According to the data, 142,362 people visited Murcia (29.9%), with France (79,118 - 16.6%) and Belgium (58,717 - 12.3) following.
Murcia has proven to be a popular destination for Brits as they can enjoy some of the finer things that life can offer them, with some feeling as though it is a home-from-home. Findings have revealed that 22,395 people from the UK have made Murcia their home, accounting for 10.69% of foreign residents (totalling 209,545).
Why is Murcia popular with Britons?
Brits are known to enjoy locations like Spain because they are close to their homeland but provide more favourable temperatures and climates, especially in the winter months. It’s not uncommon for many to stay in the country through the vast majority of a calendar year, returning in the summer because of the heat.
Murcia is one of the locations where the temperature can rise exponentially in the summer, with the average figure around the low-mid 30s. Still, with just over 10% of people in the city from Britain, it’s like a home-from-home, as they can still enjoy many of their favourite things as if they were in the UK.
Brits can still enjoy some of their favourite activities while lying at the beach or pool in the sun. They can watch the latest TV shows or films through a streaming platform, read a book that they have picked up at the airport or ordered for the occasion, or even play their preferred casino games at safe sites after looking at BonusFinder and the research they conducted to ensure players remain protected and get the best protections possible.
Image: Manuel Ramallo / Pixabay
Murcia is one of Spain’s most popular regions
Given the high temperatures in the summer and the cooler months in the first part of the year, the average stay for tourists during the first six months also increased, making Murcia the most popular region in Spain.
A total of 13.54 days was found to be the average stay for people staying in the region as a tourist, compared to Spain’s national 7.08 days average. In June, the stay for people in Murcia increased to 14.76 days, perhaps because the weather is just about manageable for those from climates like Britain, where it’s not too hot but hot enough for them to spend some time in the sun.
The increase in length of stay had a positive impact on the region’s economy regarding international tourism, with a 2.1% rise compared to the previous year. A total of 137.5 million euros was generated in the location from 92,858 tourists.
The figures are very encouraging for Murcia, as they can bring several benefits to the region. The increase in footfall might not always be something that the locals may appreciate. Still, it will mean local businesses and industries will have a better chance to thrive and grow as more money comes into the region and is being spent.
