Deser Dweller,

Good figure for the amount spent during a two week stay. $3 Billion. Now that's almost real money. You would think that would be enough incentive to clean up some of the "non-violent" crime in Madrid.

Gazpacho: I was using the offical numbers from the link that was shown above. Using the average amount that we spent and our friends say they spend when they go over, is where the $3000 comes from. "Thinking" that would be incentive to clean up the crime. One would think so. Then again "thinking" is not one of the things that I ge accused of doing very often.

Yeah Desert Dweller,

I was just agreeing with your $3000 for a two-week stay figure. That's about right. Let's see, 30 police stationed around the central tourist area, at $30,000 a year, ten cops a shift, would be $900,000. 900k/3B = 0.03%. Looks like a no-brainer.

Americans and Japanese have been the "big spenders" in Spain, and they also account for a larger portion of the inland tourism. Europeans who travel to Spain do so mainly during the summer, and head for coastal areas.

In fact, Americans outstrip everyone else in spending, by eating at better restaurants, stay in nice hotels, and even buy more at bookstores at places like Prado.

In other words, we feed the tourist economy that needs feeding, mostly inland, and even more remarkable, Americans travel more during the Spanish off-season, which has made us an even better find.

Now, with the Euro where it is, many of our major cities are finding Spanish travelers visiting the US, stocking up on everything they want, and taking it back home, instead of the other way around. The cycle is swinging more towards Spaniards buying American - here - than it is towards Americans buying Spanish - there.

But what would the Wall Street Journal, American Tourist information sources, and everyone who evaluates tourist spending know? The Spanish government says we "don't matter" that much in their tourist book, which certainly isn't going to say they've got a problem attracting US tourists.

Then the UK and France must be wrong as well... considering both nations are putting millions into projects to advertise and attract the American tourists they've lost over the last few years, and are seeing even fewer of due to the Euro being over rated. They certainly don't know as much as Spain's tourism bureau...

Or do they?

Wolf

Well, Desert Dweller, everyone is welcome in Florida! Actually, the Euro's strength is indeed a bonus for Florida's tourist industry which is already seeing its effects as thousands of Europeans are visiting Mickey earlier than usual.

But, in agreement with you,Gazpacho and Wolf,I just read an engossing article about this very same topic in the Diario de Malaga, Spain.
http://nuevo.diariomalaga.com/noticia.php?id=28345
Essentially, they are bemoaning the loss of American tourists, and is in total agreement with your statements:
roughly translated it says that the North American tourist is specialy attractive, because they spend on the average 13 days and spend an average of 87 euros per day more than other tourists, and about 75% of them stay in hotels.

I know I spent in excess of that per day, more like $150/day between meals, side trips and gifts. I'm not going to tell you what I spent at the Corte Ingles!

Booklady: Thank you for the input. You are right the American tourist has been know to "blow the farm" while on vacation. This constant Yank bashing is having a toll on the tourism industry. I read a report that in 2003 that the French definatly felt the loss of Yankee green backs. The 2004 figures are not in yet but it does not look that much brighter.

You are also right about a trip to Florida. Many of us "unsophisticated brutes" do spend a good vacation in Florida. I have always thought about going down there and helping some Cuban get past the INS officers. That is something that I would enjoy doing. Mickey I never cared much for, and if I want to talk to Goofy all I have to do is log on start reading the post from one of the extreme left wing Spanish members.

Interesting that no one has brought up the impact that the Yuan being pegged to the dollar at an artificially low rate is having. The Chinese government is being asked by most major nations to allow the Yuan to float but so far has resisted. This is a major factor in the dollar's value in the world market, and has a major impact on the balance of trade which also affects the dollar.

Another unmentioned topic is the US savings rate VS the Euro zone savings rate. This has a major effect on the Euro zone economy and again the balance of trade with the US.

We don't save, we spend it all on European vacations ;>)

ernie

Ernie: That mentality of "spend it today, tommorow may not get here" is something that we Ameircans are very guilty of. The baby boomers are going to start to retire in a few more years and it is going to bite them in the butt big time. Some of the stories that our friends are telling about their lack of planning are incrediable. These are not eigth grade drop outs either.

David,
I hope your wrong about the Euro hitting $1.40 by February!! I live in Madrid and get paid by the Dollar so this is definatly putting a dent in my wallet. It was $1.328 today, last time I had to go deposit a check in my bank I lost over $500 to the exchange rate. I am not complaining to much but it sure was a lot nicer when it was 10-15 centimos cheaper!

Following most analysts, probably 1.4 is the higher fluctuation margin as 0.93 (as we saw not so long ago) was the lowest margin limit. General oppinion is the the 1.15-1.2 is a safe bet for average level in the next year and a half.

But you know, monetary markets are completely unpredictible these days.