The tourism industry in Spain is the 3rd largest contributor to domestic economic life just after the industrial and the business/banking sectors, providing about 10-11% of Spain’s GDP, and 75 million visitors were reported to have visited the country in 2016. In 2017, Spain was the second most visited country globally, registering a count of 82 million tourists, marking it the fifth consecutive year of record-breaking figures.
Tourism in Spain has been a long-established sector for the economy, and the latest figures reveal a buoyant industry. While there are notable destinations across the country from Granada to Santiago de Compostela, Barcelona and Madrid are still heavy hitters drawing tourists, students, businessmen and women to both cities in large number. With moderate to warm temperatures throughout the year, both Barcelona and Madrid have a lot to offer culturally and esthetically. From Barcelona’s sun-drenched, sandy beaches and surround of rolling mountains to Madrid’s local, situated on an undulating plateau of sand and clay known as the Meseta, at an elevation of some 2,120 feet above sea level. These cities offer a fertile ground for tourism and hospitality investment.
At GBSB Global, we know these facts. That is why we believe so highly in our MA in Tourism and Hospitality Management degree program, educating those leaders, ready to take the reins of an already flourishing business in Spain or keen on making an investment in an entrepreneurial venture focused on this data that is forecasted to continue to grow into the foreseeable future.
While our campuses are located in two of the top ten destinations in Spain, it is important to highlight other areas in Spain that may draw the attention of spirited minds looking to find a niche and capitalize on the situation. For example, the Pyrenees on the border between Spain and France are a lucrative draw all year round, offering visitors several ski resorts to choose from, a network of hiking trails and cycling paths, extinct volcanoes, delicious Catalan food, quaint medieval towns and plentiful cultural attractions for the whole family to enjoy.
This same year-round allure can be said of the Canary Islands, an archipelago of seven main islands and six islets located off the west coast of Africa. While it may seem far away, these islands still belong to Spain and are very attractive to those travelers that just want to kick back and relax on the beach or find an invigorating yoga retreat to indulge in.
The Canary Islands are home to approximately 2.1 million permanent residents, but the infrastructure is designed to accommodate many more than that. Every year the number of visitors to the islands swell to as many as 9 - 10 million, drawn by the warm climate, beaches and nature. Tourism leads the economy, making up 32 percent of the of the Canaries’ GDP, a huge increase comparative to the rest of Spain.
While GBSB Global may be partial to Barcelona and Madrid, as our campuses are located in these cities. You can see there is ample opportunity across the country to land an exciting career or start a business of your own. Why not get your feet wet, and get your education in Spain? This will pave the way, increasing your network connections, knowledge of the economy and bureaucracy regulating business, and expand your awareness of niche markets within hospitality and tourism that may be viable for future investment.
Learn more about GBSB Global Business School’s MA in Tourism and Hospitality Management by connecting with one of our Admission Representatives that can tell you more about not only the outstanding facts and figures about tourism in Spain, but their own experiences living and working in this fantastic country! What are you waiting for? Study tourism in one of the world’s most popular destination for tourism today!
