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Foreign visitors flock to Murcia in a historic year for tourism
French and British tourists were among the top international visitors to Murcia in 2024
Murcia achieved a record-breaking year for tourism in 2024, cementing its reputation as one of Spain's most sought-after destinations. For the second consecutive year, the city welcomed more than half a million visitors, with foreign tourists contributing significantly to the surge.
According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), international holidaymakers reached an all-time high of 108,596, which is a 10.2% increase compared to the previous year, while international overnight stays climbed by 6.7%, totalling 205,806.
These figures represent nearly double the number of international overnight stays recorded a decade ago in 2014, when the total was just 112,187. Such impressive growth underscores Murcia's rising prominence as a destination for foreign visitors, with the city outpacing many other regional capitals in attracting international tourists.
Among the nationalities most drawn to Murcia, French visitors topped the list with 14,494 tourists between November 2023 and October 2024. This accounts for 62.8% of all French travellers to cities within the Region of Murcia.
Visitors from Central and South America, as well as Canada, ranked second with 12,715 holidaymakers, 67.3% of whom chose Murcia as their primary destination. British tourists followed closely in third place, with 11,718 visitors, while Italian tourists ranked fourth with 9,940.
Several smaller but growing markets also showed significant increases. An impressive 74.8% of Japanese tourists visiting the Region chose Murcia as their destination, along with 71.3% of Danish travellers.
Danish tourists led the growth surge, with a staggering 94.8% increase in visitors and a 130.1% rise in overnight stays. Belgian overnight stays grew by 63.8%, while visitors from Luxembourg posted a 50.3% increase.
The Councillor for Tourism, Trade and Consumption, Jesús Pacheco, highlights that "Murcia is experiencing a historic moment in terms of tourism. These figures not only reflect the attractiveness of our city, but also the collective effort to position ourselves as a competitive and increasingly attractive destination. The renovation of infrastructures, the expansion of our cultural offering and the improvement of connections have been decisive in this success."
The city’s growing popularity extends beyond leisure tourism. Murcia has established itself as a leading destination for business, business and gastronomic tourism - sectors that generate high levels of spending and make significant contributions to the local economy.
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Image: Ayuntamiento de Murcia
