Spain has been shown once again to be the world’s second favourite tourist destination, according to new figures for the first half of 2007.

Second only to traditional favourite France, with its particularly easy access for travel-crazed Brits, visitors to Spain this year from across the world totalled 33.8 million.

The sheer number of tourists coming to Spain every year is more impressive when viewed in relation to the country’s population: visitors in 2006 outnumbered residents last year by as much as 16 million.

Figures for January-July 2007 were even two per cent year up on the same period in 2006, suggesting that the Spanish tourist boom is showing no signs of abating.

The average length of stay for visitors to Iberian destinations was reported to be nine nights, leaving visitors plenty of time to sample the local culture and pick up a tan.

Many though find it too short, with high numbers of people choosing to live in Spain making it a top destination for foreign property seekers as well as tourists.

Tourists flocking to Spain are normally most numerous in the sunny Costa del Sol, but this year has seen the area overtaken by the Costa Blanca stretch of eastern coastline, which registered higher levels of late summer hotel occupation.