British tourists help make it a record start to the year for Murcia's tourism

International visitor numbers reach a record high as tourists spend more and stay longer, with British holidaymakers continuing to lead the way

The Region of Murcia has recorded its strongest start to the year for international tourism, with more overseas visitors arriving than ever before and spending almost €776 million in the process.

Between January and June, 582,437 international tourists visited the Region, 2.9% more than during the same period in 2025. Spending also reached a record €775.7 million, up 3.4% on last year.

British holidaymakers once again made up the biggest share of overseas visitors. A total of 186,633 people travelled from the UK during the first six months of the year, an increase of 9.4%, meaning almost one in three international tourists in Murcia were British.

France was the second biggest market with just over 74,000 visitors, while some of the fastest growth came from the Nordic countries and Ireland. Visitor numbers from the Nordic region rose by 58.3% compared with last year, while arrivals from Ireland increased by 55.5%. The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany also continued to bring thousands of visitors to the Region.

It's not just visitor numbers that are rising. International tourists are also spending more during their stay, with average daily spending reaching €124.15, up 13.2% on last year. Murcia also continues to stand out for attracting visitors who stay longer than anywhere else in Spain, with an average stay of 10.7 days compared with the national average of 6.9 days.

Air travel remained by far the most popular way to reach the Region. More than 444,000 international visitors arrived by plane between January and June, accounting for over three quarters of all overseas tourists and representing a 9.6% increase on the same period in 2025.

The figures were rounded off by a particularly strong June, when Murcia welcomed 119,088 international visitors, the highest June total on record. Tourists also spent more during the month than they did a year earlier, with average daily spending climbing to €135.53, an increase of 20.6%.

For a Region that has been steadily building its reputation with overseas visitors, the latest figures suggest that more people are choosing Murcia for their holidays, staying longer once they arrive and spending more while they're here.

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Image:Archive