Spain surpassed US as tourism destination in 2017: Rajoy

AFP ^ | January 11, 2018 | Staff

[C19fan]

Spain last year surpassed the United States to become the world's second most visited country after France, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said during a visit to Italy.

Rajoy, speaking late Wednesday, said 82 million people visited in 2017, a nine percent increase over the previous year that came despite terror attacks and the political crisis in tourism magnet Catalonia.

[C19fan]

Lots of partying on Ibiza.

[WayneS]

Okay.

[pepsi_junkie]

I guess when all the news out of Italy, Greece, Germany, and France is out of control muslim immigration and associated crime, rape, and terrorism it would make a country that so far has avoided such headlines seem quote attractive.

[Leep]

Would they like 800 k mostly Spanish speaking “visitors”?

[Red Badger]

Well, I’ve never been to Spain....................

[Slyfox]

Spain is great. I asked people what it is like before I went. One friend told me that if you mix CA and CO and TX together and when all the best parts float to the top THAT is Spain. I got that impression when I went.

Also, for some reason I was expecting Tex-Mex food but it was NOT Tex-Mex. No tacos anywhere.

Why more people are going there is probably the perceived nation that it is safer. You know with all the BLM bull crap going on here and stuff.

[cymbeline]

We went to Spain last year. Friendly people, beautiful women, many historical sites.

[dfwgator]

Us too. Had a great time. Barcelona was crowded! Really liked Seville. And you have to visit Ronda if you get the chance.

[circlecity]

But I kinda like the music.....

[dfwgator]

Surprised it took 5 posts, LOL!

[moovova]

“I guess when all the news out of Italy, Greece, Germany, and France is out of control muslim immigration...”

My wife and I watch Wheel of Fortune often. There’s a prize puzzle round where the winner of the round gets an all expense paid trip. I mentioned to the wife last night that all of the trips seem to be to the Caribbean or Hawaii now. I can’t remember the last time I saw a European trip. Guess it wouldn’t look good for a WoF contestant to get raped or beheaded in jolly old London or Berlin.

[moovova]

Thumbs up!

[dfwgator]

I wonder if they still give away European vacations on "Pig in a Poke"?

[Presbyterian Reporter]

If Florida was a ‘country’ it would be the most visited in the world.

The reason France and Spain can claim the most foreign visitors is that most of the visitors come from the neighboring European countries that in most cases are smaller than most states in the USA.

A record 98 million domestic visitors came to Florida last year, a 7.3 percent increase over 2015. International visitors totaled 14.8 million

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=florida+annual+visitors&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&lr=&cr=&as_qdr=all&as_sitesearch=&as_occt=any&safe=images&as_filetype=&as_rights=

[Red Badger]

Say the ladies are insane there....................

[onedoug]

‘Been to Spain. Me gusta castellano.

The only reason I’d go to France is visit Agincourt.

[dfwgator]

The only reason I’d go to France is visit Agincourt.

You need to go to Normandy and visit the American Cemetery. I could have spent the whole day there.

[cld51860]

Went to Barcelona a few years back. Absolutely loved it and would go back in a heartbeat.

[Slyfox]

The Spanish like Americans and are very proud of their role in the discovery of America.

While you were in Barcelona I am sure you visited the dedicated pier and statue where Columbus embarked on his way to America.

[dfwgator]

A word of warning, at least when we were there, the Taxi drivers strike every Thursday in Barcelona. Fortunately we were able to get around via the Hop On/Hop Off busses.