TOURIST numbers fell by 8.7 per cent in Spain in 2009 as a result of the recession – a drop four times that of 2008, which was the first year in which holidaymaker figures had fallen for many years.

But the country still saw 52.2 million foreigners travelling over to spend their holidays, according to research by the ministry of industry, tourism and commerce.

British citizens remain top of the list for Spain's largest number of foreign holidaymakers, although numbers fell from 15.5 million in 2008 to 13.3 million in 2009.

German tourists, the second-largest national group, accounted for nine million – a fall of 11.3 per cent on the year before and France represented eight million of Spain's international holidaymakers, a drop of 2.9 on the 2008's figures.

The average holidaymaker spent 922 euros on their trip to Spain, including accommodation, food and souvenirs – some 6.8 per cent less than the previous year.

More than 50 per cent of Spain's tourism figures last year was made up of people travelling from other parts of the country, rather than abroad.

This year, the central government is set to hand over 72 million euros to the regional governments of the Comunidad Valenciana, Andalucía, the Balearic and Canary Islands in order for them to improve infrastructure and facilities to promote both tourism and employment.