Spain retained its status as the world's second most popular tourist destination in 2007, with 59.7m visitors, according to new figures.
Statistics released by Exceltur, the company that groups Spain's major hotel chains, travel agents and airlines, show that last year's visitor numbers represented a 2.2% increase on 2006.
The Iberian country is expected to reach the 60m mark this year, Reuters reports.
Jose Luis Zoreda, executive vice-president of Exceltur, said: 'For 2008, we expect 60.7m tourists in Spain.'
The falling cost of air travel to Spain and the rising popularity of city breaks were thought to be among the factors that boosted the popularity of the country last year.
As a result of growth in the city break market, the average visitor to Spain spent less time and money in the country last year, according to the Exceltur figures.
The 'sun and beach' segment, which accounts for 70% of the Spanish holiday market, saw visitor numbers rise 0.7% last year, while demand for urban hotels grew 6.3%.
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