The amount of money spent by foreign tourists in Spain rose by 9.6 percent in 2013 to 59.082 billion euros (80.720 billion U.S. dollars) compared with 2012, breaking a record high, the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism reported on Monday.

The average spending per tourist stood at 976 euros, increasing by 3.7 percent in annual terms, while the average daily spending stood at 109 euros, which meant a 3.3 percent increase in annual terms.

Visitors from Britain, Germany, France and Nordic countries spent the largest amount of money in 2013 in Spain, while the northeastern region of Catalonia received the largest amount last year with 14.022 billion euros, a 23.7 percent of the total.

Visitors from Britain spent the largest amount of money in 2013. Their spending increased by 7.8 percent to 12.021 billion euros and represented 20.3 percent of the total amount spent by international tourists.

The British were followed by the Germans, who spent a total of 9.722 billion euros, 7.9 percent more than a year ago, representing 16.5 percent of the total. Visitors from France and the Nordic countries were in the third and fourth place, spending 5.926 billion euros and 5.725 billion euros respectively.

The French spent 17.9 percent more than a year ago while visitors from the Nordic countries 19.4 percent more than in 2012.

Only in December, the amount of money spent by foreign tourists increased by 15.8 percent in comparison with the same month in 2012 to a total of 3.187 billion euros.

The ministry reported that the average daily spending rose by 4.6 percent to 104 euros and the average spending per tourist fell by 0.6 percent to 1,040 euros.

2013 was a very successful year for Spain's tourism sector as the country received 60.6 million of international tourists, becoming the third most popular tourist destination in the world, overtaking China and sitting behind France and the United States.

The tourist sector is very important for Spain's economy, which has started growing in the third and fourth quarter of 2013. (1 euro = 1.37 U.S. dollars) Endi