Tourists to Granada return successful views of nan Alhambra. Credit: Mazur Travel - Shutterstock
In caller years, Spain has emerged arsenic an progressively much charismatic destination for American tourists, pinch Malaga airport’s arrivals lounge unsocial seeing a 26.1 per cent surge successful US visitors successful 2024, totalling 220,615 travellers.
The roar reflects a broader inclination of US citizens choosing Spain for its irresistible blend of precocious value accommodation, rich | culture, and improved accessibility done nonstop flights from cities for illustration New York. The country’s tourism gross deed a record-breaking €21.2 billion, firmly planting Spain’s position arsenic a magnet for nan US dollar. To understand this increasing interest, we asked Americans successful Spain astir nan cardinal factors driving their attraction to España.
Tourists from America want authenticity
Sam Miller, for example, highlights nan entreaty of authenticity: “We ever look for an authentic experience, astonishing work and bully food. A invited ambiance and a very free and safe acquisition wherever we tin ever travel back, which is why nan rudeness of nan Spanish waiters is shocking to us, but we clasp it arsenic portion of nan taste environment.” For Grant E. Trobaugh, nan tie includes “good worth for nan money, accordant work and merchandise quality.”
While sun, sea, and soil are little basal for many, particularly those without young children, taste exploration takes precedence. Noel Morata explains, “Booze, eating and nan formation are not truthful important to america compared to exploring nan unsocial and historic, trying caller foods and seeing taste differences successful dance, euphony and arts.” Similarly, Heather Wallace advises, “Learn astir nan history of nan place. See a castle. Visit a vineyard aliases oliva grove aliases orangish grove. Bike, hike. Look wrong an aged church. Eat caller foods, spot Roman ruins. Try vermouth.”
Robert Diamant notes that “The large cities (Barcelona, Madrid, and Sevilla) often tie Americans for nan taste ‘must-sees’, history, food, art, and nightlife. On nan Costa del Sol, galore are looking for nan formation manner but besides expect things for illustration English-language menus, reliable WiFi, and a grade of convenience.” While Jenna Coates agrees but adds a twist: “It’s besides benignant of nosy to comparison experiences astatine places we do cognize but successful different countries. While we effort caller foods and nan tapa experience, trying Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Burger King is simply a nosy experience, but not nan full time.”
For immoderate Americans, its nan relationship pinch Spain
For some, Spain feels acquainted yet distinct. Sharon Byrne, from California, observes, “Coming from California, which is simply a type of New Spain, nan spot feels acquainted but better: a akin and amended climate, and what you can’t find successful America – a consciousness of existent community, respect for elders, and a privilege connected being societal and genuinely surviving life.” This consciousness of organization resonates profoundly pinch David Ellingson Eddington, who sees a unsocial loyalty and relationship among people, echoing writer Erin Meyer’s observations that is nan immense distances successful nan US create a stark societal contrast.
As American visitors flock to Spain, businesses should statement their chopped preferences. These travellers activity sophistication, taste immersion, and a consciousness of family and community, bolstered by a favourable exchange rate that encourages spending, of course.