SPAIN IS BETWEEN THE TOURIST DESTINIES PREFERRED BY THE AMERICANS

The North American tourists spend 431 million dollars with cards Visa in their trips from tourism to Spain

20 of August of 2008
Madrid
It seems that the economic crisis and the debilitated dollar are not forcing the North Americans to remain in house. In agreement with the results of a study realized recently by VISA in the United States, the holders of their cards have not seen reduced their enthusiasm to travel during their vacations. In fact, two of each three survey showed a greater predisposition to cross their borders, in comparison with data of the past year.

“To the Americans it enchants to them to travel, it is difficult to maintain them in house�? indicates Vicente Echeveste, person in charge of the global section of trips and Inc. VISA tourism

In order to elaborate the ranking of visited countries more, the data of the cost realized by the card are considering holders Visa in their transactions during their vacations abroad. In this sense, the study indicates that both first destinies in which the cards have been used more Visa, and, therefore, that have been visited more, are closely together of their own country (Canada and Mexico). Despite the five great countries of western Europe (the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany and Spain) they suppose as a whole a greater number (4,647 million US$) to the total than the Americans they spend with cards Visa in its neighboring countries (4,600 million US$).

These same results also demonstrate that Spain is placed more between the ten visited destinies. The use of cards to realize its purchases shows that our country is between the North American tourist preference. The economic transactions paid with card Visa by American tourists in Spain during 2007 ascended to a total of 431 million dollars (of a total of 3,400 million US$ spent in 25 international tourist destinies).

Between the 1 of January and the 31 of December of 2007, the selected destinies and the cost realized with card Visa by the American tourists was the following:

Country	Million US$	Country	Million US$
1. Canada	2.900	6. Germany	837
2. Mexico	1.700	7. Puerto Rico	741
3. The United Kingdom	1.300	8. Australia	435
4. Italy	1.100	9. Spain	431
5. France	979	10. China	414

The tourist destinies anticipated by the American card holders Visa that have traveled to the foreigner in the last three years and that they try to return to do it in 2008 include to Spain between the 10 favorites:

Destiny		Destiny
1. Canada	46%	5. Italy	27%
2. Mexico	45%	6. Bahamas	24%
3. Other countries	35%	7. France	24%
4. The United Kingdom	28%	8. Spain	18%

In what they spend plus the American tourists?

Observing you rule of consumption of the tourists, through the transactions realized with its cards Visa, the sector that benefits more and that will continue benefitting, it is the hotel sector, followed of the restaurants and the leisure. the lodging supposes 60% of the total of the cost that glides to realize the American tourists abroad, followed of the restoration, the leisure and the purchases.

With respect to the cost realized in Spain by the American tourists in 2007, the main sectors in which spent more were Lodging (31%), restaurants (12%) and department store (6%), of a total of cost with cards Visa of 431 million dollars.

The travellers prefer the electronic payment

If we observed the method of payment preferred by these tourists, the numbers compiled by Visa aim abroad at a clear preference by the use of the credit card (63%), with clear difference on the cash (18%). If we added cards of Debit and Pre-payment, 76% of the survey ones are almost praised/poured off to use electronic means of payment when they travel to the foreigner.

The reasons that mention the survey ones by this preference base on three factors: comfort (94%), easy access to the bottoms (87%) and by reasons for security (78%).

Spain reunites all the qualities to be the favorite destiny

The results of the surveys to include/understand the tourist preferences, have reached the conclusion that at the time of planning a trip, first that looks for it is the opportunity to undergo the local culture (26%), closely followed of an pleasant climate (22%).

According to the study, this year the Americans who realize international trips begin to be more conscious on the cost of the same. They plan a basic trip and only one of each five survey considers to make a trip with many luxuries. Comparing the Spanish cost of life with the rest of Europe, coverall with the one of the United Kingdom (the first European country more visited by the Americans), Spain aims at being an idyllic destiny for these.