Tourism in Spain breaks records. - Arrivals of foreign tourists in Spain in August broke the record set in 1995 with 7.9 million visitors, representing an increase of 5% over one year. In total, over the first nine months of the year, the country will have welcomed 40.7 million tourists, or 3.6% more than in 2011. Representing 10% of GDP, tourism is a key sector for the economy of the country and is one of the very few sectors of activity which are growing in a general context of recession. The British provided the largest contingent, with 24% of the total number of visitors, followed by the French (21.7%, a large increase) and the Germans (13%). Catalonia is the most-visited region (+15% over a year), followed by the Balearics, Andalusia and the Canary Islands. (IL/transl.fl)