Record tourist numbers in July

The Spanish economy may receive a welcome boost after it was revealed on Friday that the numbers of tourists visiting the country in July hit a record number.

The number of foreign visitors reached an incredible 8.3 million, surpassing last year’s figures by 5.9 percent, according to a statement from the Ministry for Industry, Tourism and Trade.

Speaking to Cope Radio Jose Manuel Soria, Minister of Industry, said: “If the trend continues I think we will have a good August, too.”

Despite being the world’s third favourite tourist detination, behind the USA and France, Spain’s unemployment rate still stands at 24 percent despite there being a gradual pick-up in the economy since emerging from recession in mid-2013.

Tourists and holidaymakers spent €26.35 billion in the first of half of this year; an increase of 7.8 percent on the same period of 2013.