Spain reports 6 percent rise in tourist arrivals

More and more visitors are heading for non-beach destinations such as Madrid, the government reported Tuesday.

Tourist arrivals in Spain rose 6 percent in the first eight months of the year, and more visitors are heading for non-beach destinations such as Madrid, the government reported Tuesday.

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The Catalonia region, the wealthy northeastern coastal area whose capital is Barcelona, was Spain's top tourist destination, followed by the Balearic islands in the Mediterranean and Andalusia in the south, the Industry, Tourism and Trade Ministry said in a report. By nationality, Britain sent more tourists to Spain than any other country, followed by France and Germany.

From January through August a total of 38.7 million tourists visited Spain, up 6 percent from the same period of 2004, the report said. It did not attempt to explain the rise.

Madrid and other regions in Spain's interior are among those that reported significant increases in arrivals, Secretary of State for Tourism Raimon Fernandez Fraile told reporters as he presented the report.