Chinese tourist arrivals in Spain surge amid record-breaking travel year: data
BARCELONA, Spain, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of visitors from China rose by 26 percent in the first quarter of this year, building on a 66.7 percent increase recorded in 2024, when Spain welcomed 647,801 Chinese travelers, according to the Spanish Tourism Institute (Turespana).
Chinese tourists are among the record-breaking influx of international visitors choosing Spain as a holiday destination, according to Spain's ministry of tourism.
More than 25.6 million people visited Spain during the first four months of 2025, putting the country on course to reach a record 100 million international visitors this year, according to figures from the National Statistics Institute (INE) published on Monday by the tourism ministry.
According to INE data, the rise in visitor numbers represents a 7.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year, when Spain set an all-time record of 93.8 million tourists.
While most visitors came from European countries - particularly Britain (4.7 million), France (3.4 million), and Germany (3.3 million) - the number of visitors from non-European countries also increased by 6.5 percent.
Turespana noted that the growing popularity of Spain among Chinese travelers is reflected in the doubling of direct flights between China and Spain since the pre-pandemic year of 2019, with 61 flights scheduled this summer.
"Spain is consolidating its position as an on-trend European destination in the Chinese market," sources at the tourism institute told Xinhua.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysian Reserve
40 minutes ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Ringgit eases marginally against greenback after stronger US economic data
KUALA LUMPUR — The ringgit eased against the greenback at the close on Wednesday after the United States posted stronger economic data. At 6 pm, the local note edged lower to 4.2435/2490 versus the US dollar from Tuesday's close of 4.2425/2485. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd's chief economist, Dr. Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, said stronger-than-expected US job openings in April lifted optimism about the American economy's resilience and helped lift the dollar. US job openings rose 191,000 to 7.391 million by the last day of April, beating a forecast of 7.10 million vacancies. '(Another) data point will be released in the United States (later tonight). The US Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Index for the services sector is expected to rise to 52 points in May from 51.6 points in April based on consensus estimates. Having said that, the US Dollar Index (DXY) continues to hover below 100 points. Currently, the DXY index is lingering around 99.145 points, down 0.08 per cent from the previous close,' he told Bernama. SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said traders were increasing interest in US assets, easing short term pressure on the dollar as expectations for interest rates shifted slightly. 'Meanwhile, there are quiet signs from Shanghai, via the US Chamber of Commerce president, that China may be starting to relax restrictions on rare earth exports. This has led markets to hope that a call between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could lead to a small breakthrough, or at least a longer pause in the current trade tensions,' he said. At the close, the ringgit traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies. It rose against the Japanese yen to 2.9444/9486 from Tuesday's close of 2.9695/9739, gained vis-à-vis the euro to 4.8300/8362 from 4.8415/8484, but depreciated against the British pound to 5.7427/7502 from 5.7337/7418 previously. The local note also traded mostly higher against its ASEAN peers. It appreciated against the Singapore dollar to 3.2906/2951 from 3.2967/3016 on Tuesday, advanced versus the Thai baht to 12.9679/9911 from 13.0334/0603 and edged higher vis-a-vis the Philippine peso to 7.60/7.62 from 7.61/7.63. However, it traded slightly lower versus the Indonesian rupiah at 260.4/260.8 compared to 260.1/260.6 on Tuesday. — BERNAMA
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Potential in religious tourism
Published on: Wednesday, June 04, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 04, 2025 By: Wu Vui Tek Text Size: Mary (centre) and Vincent (right) with the fellowship participants. Kota Kinabalu: Christian religious tourism holds strong potential to be further developed in Sabah, following a steady stream of overseas arrivals. This was evident from the growing number of participants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei, and Singapore who attended the 30th Legion of Mary (Chinese) Annual Fellowship Gathering 2025 in Kota Kinabalu. They were joined by local parishioners and participants from Peninsular Malaysia during the fellowship held from May 30 to June 2. 'It is estimated that nearly 800 overseas participants, along with over 100 local and domestic attendees, came together for this fellowship event. 'This is the third time Kota Kinabalu has hosted the event, and over the years, the number of arrivals has continued to grow,' said Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Sabah Chairman Vincent Sia during the farewell dinner at Wisma Hakka. Among those in attendance were Archbishop John Wong and Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry (KePKAS), Deputy Permanent Secretary Mary Malangking. KePKAS sponsored goodie bags for the participants. Next year's fellowship will be hosted by Taichung, Taiwan. Parishioners also engaged in cultural presentations, including participating in the Kadazan's sumazau dance and enjoying the APT dance. 'I see this religious tourism segment as one that can be further developed into a niche market in Sabah with support from the tourism ministry. 'One of the ways to encourage this is by providing more incentives to tourism players to promote this segment,' said Vincent. The programme included visits and worship at Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy in KKIP, and the Church of Mary Immaculate to deepen the participants' faith and connection with God. Vincent attributed the surge in overseas arrivals to the inclusion of excursion tours to Kudat, Kundasang, and Ranau, allowing participants to explore the tourist attractions in those areas. 'The combination of worship and sightseeing has made the programme particularly appealing, as participants are able to spend time relaxing and reflecting,' he said. 'We hope to attract more arrivals in the near future, as many people have heard about Sabah but have yet to set foot here. 'We hope the participants will help spread the word when they return home,' he added. Some attendees extended their stay to visit St Michael's Church in Penampang, the second-oldest stone church in Sabah after the Anglican Church in Sandakan, he said. Vincent added that other religions, including Islam and Buddhism, also hold potential for religious tourism, as the architectural design of their places of worship can attract faith-based travellers. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malaysia Sun
an hour ago
- Malaysia Sun
China's openness to multilateralism empowers Global South, counters protectionism, experts say
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China's continued commitment to free and open trade, as well as balanced multilateral cooperation, is not only empowering its own economic growth but also providing a strong foundation for developing economies across the Global South amid mounting global uncertainty, according to analysts. OPEN TRADE STANCE BOLSTERING GLOBAL SOUTH China's participation in the recent ASEAN-China-GCC Summit underscores its role as an economic anchor, helping to counterbalance the harmful effects of rising protectionism and unilateral policies by certain countries, said Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia, in a recent interview with Xinhua. "The summit allows ASEAN, GCC, and China to align more closely with the broader Global South's interest and agenda," Lee said. "Such platforms provide opportunities to amplify their voice and also discuss new ways to cooperate amidst global uncertainty," she further explained, adding that it was also a good opportunity for the Global South to try to reshape the world order to be more inclusive and diverse. "As some countries are becoming more protectionist and isolationist, the summit was a good initiative and effort to counter these emerging trends. The summit proves that economies can complement rather than compete with one another, easing the worries that countries can only develop if they turn inward," she said, adding that such a cooperative model could serve as a successful template for other groupings with China. EXPANDING PRACTICAL COOPERATION IN DEVELOPMENT Malaysian experts also stress the importance of practical and inclusive cooperation among developing nations. The summit offers a promising platform for South-South collaboration in key sectors, especially for countries seeking alternatives to Western-dominated systems. Andrew Kam Jia Yi, a senior research fellow with the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies at the National University of Malaysia, highlighted the increasingly fractious nature of global technological development and the need for more inclusive cooperation frameworks. He pointed out that sharing would benefit from closer cooperation between countries that are at risk of U.S. pressure over their engagement with China, enabling them to continue their development and adoption of new technology. "The summit opens new pathways for South-South collaboration, where nations can support one another through trade, joint infrastructure projects, and technology sharing," he said. "It is particularly complementary in critical areas such as renewable energy, digital innovation, and public health." "This cooperation will be able to pursue an independent path of free and open trade and multilateralism. They can pursue their own paths," Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, also told Xinhua. ADVANCING MULTIPOLAR VISION FOR A CHANGING WORLD Kam also observed a broader strategic shift as Global South countries increasingly push back against Western pressure, particularly in areas such as monetary policy. Instead, these countries are seeking cooperation with partners who are grounded in respect for sovereignty, non-interference, and mutual benefit. "The summit supports practical steps to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar by promoting local currency trade and regional financial tools, helping these economies better withstand global financial shocks. Ultimately, the summit represents more than just policy agreements," he said. "(Multilateral engagement) fosters a multipolar dialogue that values diversity in development models and encourages the exchange of ideas and resources. This broadens the scope of multilateralism to include voices that have often been underrepresented in global decision-making processes, thereby making the international system more representative and equitable," he added. According to Azmi Hassan, U.S. policies have "backfired spectacularly," leading to increased engagement and cooperation among Global South partners. "Aggressive policies by the 'Global North' are only driving stronger cooperation and strengthening trade and economic links," he added.
