Tourist spending on the increase

THE total amount spent by foreign tourists in the Balearic Islands during the first ten months of this year stood at 8'231 million euros, a figure which represents a 2.2 percent increase on figures for the same period last year. However, the central government ministry for Industry, Tourism and Commerce confirmed yesterday that the Islands' regional performance fell short of Spain's national average growth in the sector of 4.4 percent. Statistics revealed that the country's total tourist spend for the period was 40'615 million euros. The Balearics and the Canary Islands were the only two regions of the country where the figure for individual spending by tourists for the period from January to October this year, rose by 0.9 and 2.4 percent respectively, to 913 and 1'015 euros. On a national average level, individual spending dropped by 1.9 percent.