The Tourism Miracle of the Region of Murcia

The Region of Murcia continues to establish itself as a leading tourist destination, reaching its highest historical number of international visitors in 2024. With a total of 1,158,201 foreign tourists, the community surpassed its previous record from 2018 (1,134,189 tourists) and experienced a notable growth of 18.6% compared to 2023. This increase, well above the national average of 10.1%, positions Murcia as the third community with the highest year-on-year increase in international tourism, only behind Navarra and Aragón.

At the national level, Spain also experienced an exceptional year, nearing 93.8 million foreign tourists, according to the Frontur survey by the National Institute of Statistics.

Constant Growth and Consolidation of Tourism in Murcia

December 2024 reaffirmed this positive trend, with 74,691 foreign tourists, the highest number recorded in this month within the historical series. This figure represents an increase of 5.5% compared to November and a year-on-year growth of 3.4%, far exceeding the national average of 1.1%. In total, 2,475 more tourists visited the region compared to December 2023.

Main Tourist Source Countries

The United Kingdom remains the main source market for tourism to the Region of Murcia, with 313,686 visitors in 2024, an increase of 6.7% compared to the previous year and representing 27.1% of the total international tourists. France occupies the second position, with 230,119 tourists and a growth of 23.2%, representing 19.9% of the total.

Other key markets include:

Belgium: 111,394 tourists (+26.2%), representing 9.6% of the total.
Nordic Countries: 80,637 visitors (+2.1%), with a share of 7%.
Netherlands: 77,194 tourists, with an increase of 46.3%.
Germany: 65,635 visitors, with a rise of 10.4% compared to 2023.
Murcia, the Community with the Longest Average Stay
One of the most notable aspects of tourism in Murcia is the duration of the stay of foreign visitors. In 2024, the average was 12.83 days, significantly higher than the national average of 7.26 days, positioning Murcia as the autonomous community with the longest tourist stay.

Additionally, tourist spending also set a new record, reaching 1,606.2 million euros, 29.2% more than in 2023. This increase positions the region as the third community with the highest year-on-year growth in terms of tourist spending. In December, the best historical figure in this aspect was recorded, with 116 million euros, representing an increase of 5.2% compared to the same month of the previous year.

With these figures, Murcia not only confirms its appeal as a tourist destination but also continues to strengthen its economy and international projection, offering a unique combination of history, culture, nature, and gastronomy.