Spain39;s GDP growth expected at 2.4, beating peers
German tourists spent average 1,340 euros per visit
Spain set to mark a new record in arrivals for 2024

MADRIDBERLIN, Sept 2 Reuters Spain received a record 10.9 million tourists in July, 7.3 more than a year ago, while their spending jumped 12, stoking the Spanish economy39;s solid growth in contrast to some European peers responsible for much of the inflow of visitors.

Data released on Monday by the National Statistics Institute also showed that in the first seven months of 2024 spending by foreign visitors rose 18.6 to 71 billion euros 79 billion, despite initial concerns over antitourism protests and extreme summer temperatures.

The boom, driven by British and German visitors, is expected to propel Spain39;s GDP growth to 2.4 this year, significantly above 0.7 expected for the euro zone or Germany39;s 0.3, according to a Reuters poll.

Despite a 0.2 dip in Germany39;s secondquarter domestic consumption, German tourists increased their spending in Spain by almost 10 to an average of 1,340 euros per visit.

Britons, who account for one in five visitors, spent 7.5 more, or 1,389 euros in July.

Spain is more competitive than Germany in the services sector, said Raymond Torres, chief economist at the Funcas think tank. There is also a shift in consumption patterns, which have globally shifted towards spending on travel. People prefer to spend more on a better hotel.

Hauke Prigge, 34yearold communication coach…