Andalusia increased 9% in the number of tourists for congresses and meetings in 2004

Andalusia received 1,169,000 tourists for congresses, meetings and businesses in 2004, a 9% increase with respect to the previous year. 78.4% of the visitors were Spanish and 21.6% were from abroad, mainly Americans, French and British, according to data from the Statistics and Analysis System of Tourism in Andalusia (Saeta), from the Tourism, Commerce and Sport Council of the Junta de Andalucía.

During 2004, the large affluence of the visitors from this segment was in Autumn (31.5%) and Spring (26.2%), contributing to the reduction of seasonality. The hotels were selected as accommodation by 86.7% of these business and meetings travellers, where such hotels were also venues for professional meetings.

The average daily expenses for these travellers last year was 59 Euros, 10 Euros more than the rest of the tourists. Half of the budget was spent on food, followed by accommodation (16%), purchases (15.2%) and leisure (7.3%). 82.4% of these tourists considered the price-quality ratio as “well” or “very well”.

The impression that these tourists gave of Andulasia as a destination was very good, with an average point of 7.7. The most valued aspects were the landscapes and the accommodation, for above 8.3 points, together with food and natural parks, both with 8.2 points. Also, it got a high valuation of 8 points on the quality of tourism offer and the attention received, among others.

The Andalusian community currently has a total of 487,000 spaces for trade shows, congresses and conventions. 86% of the capacity can be held within the hotels infrastructures for meetings, while the congress halls represent 10% of the space capacity. The remaining 4% are grouped in meeting rooms.

By provinces, Malaga took the lead with 30% of the space, followed by Seville and Granada, with 20% and 17% respectively. Granada and Almeria each has 11% of the total Andalusian capacity. Cordoba has 7% while Jaen has 3% and Huelva has another 1%.