Last year the community exceeded 6.5 million travelers staying and for the first time surpassed the barrier of 12 million overnight stays.
Occupancy was 8 points higher than the national average and Galicia maintained its position as the seventh most important destination.
The good progress of the Galician tourism sector throughout 2022 has been confirmed with the final data for the year already ended. During the past financial year, Galicia registered a significant increase in the number of visitors and overnight stays, not only widely exceeding (40% more) the figures for 2021, but also increasing the numbers for 2019, prior to the covid pandemic.
According to INE data broken down by the president of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda, during the ceremony held in Chantadato commemorate the tenth anniversary of the establishment in that town of the multinational hotelier Hotusa, Galicia closed 2022 with more than 6.5 million of travelers and lodgers and for the first time surpassed the barrier of 12 million overnight stays by adding 12.5 million nights.
The progress registered with respect to 2021 has occurred both in terms of national tourists, which have increased by 22%, and international tourists, which doubled to reach 3.1 million visitors from other countries.
From the Xunta they emphasize that this increase in the number of visitors and overnight stays has been felt in all types of tourist accommodation, but especially in hostels, which present the highest increase, more than doubling the figures for 2021. This increase of the hostels is the result of the continuation of the Holy Year Xacobeo 21-22, since the increase in pilgrims during the past year has also allowed another record to be broken: that of the compostelas granted in a single year, which for the first time exceeded the 400,000.
As explained by the director of Galicia Tourism, Nava Castro, in the Galician Parliament, these figures have allowed Galicia to register an occupancy rate 8 points higher than the national average in 2022 and to maintain its position as the seventh most important destination after the Canary Islands, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Andalusia, the Valencian Community and Madrid. In addition, Galicia made progress in the seasonal adjustment of the tourism sector since although the high season (July and August) concentrated 38% of the demand, the mid season achieved the same percentage and the low season took the remaining 24%.