Tourism Drives Significant Economic Growth in the Region of Murcia
Tourism now accounts for nearly 10% of Murcia's GDP, driving substantial economic growth with record jobs, investment, and visitor spending.
- • Tourism contributed 16% to Murcia's economic growth since 2019.
- • Expected tourism revenue in 2024 is €4.156 billion, a 61% rise from pre-pandemic levels.
- • 65,980 jobs created in tourism, representing 20.8% of total job creation.
- • Fiscal revenues from tourism reached €1.297 billion, accounting for 8.4% of total tax collection.
Key details
Tourism has become a pivotal driver of economic growth in the Region of Murcia, accounting for 16% of the region's growth since 2019 and expected to contribute €4.156 billion in 2024 — a 61% increase from before the pandemic. This surge represents nearly 10% of the regional GDP, underscoring the sector's growing importance. The tourism boom has also generated nearly 66,000 jobs, making up 20.8% of total employment growth in that period, and contributed €1.297 billion to fiscal revenues, around 8.4% of total tax collection.
The increase in tourism investment has been remarkable, with a 76.5% hike in business investments and a 7.6% rise in hotel capacity upgrading from 3 to 5 stars. The sector’s dynamism is further reflected in international visitor spending, forecasted to reach €1.856 billion in 2024, fueling demand and economic activity. The multiplier effect of tourism is significant, generating €34.30 in other sectors for every €100 spent directly in tourism and creating 37 indirect jobs per 100 direct tourism jobs.
Government and private sector collaboration has been strengthened by the signing of the first Regional Pact for Tourism, a strategic framework to enhance joint efforts in cementing tourism as a core economic pillar. Carmen Conesa, Regional Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Sports, emphasized tourism as a strategic axis for regional development.
While the tourism sector thrives, other parts of Murcia's economy have seen mixed results entering 2025. Services, transport, commerce, construction, and certain industrial sectors have grown, though hospitality experienced a slight downturn of 4.2%, mainly due to a 1.1% decline in regulated accommodations over the summer. Nonetheless, growth in hotels (+3.1%) and rural accommodations (+22.7%) offers some balance. Overall, tourism’s robust expansion highlights its critical role in Murcia’s economic resilience and future prosperity.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
