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Tourists give Murcia a big thumbs up in recent international survey
New Turespaña data shows 96% of international visitors report being satisfied or very satisfied with their stay in the Region
According to the latest Turespaña survey of international tourists, satisfaction levels in the Region of Murcia reach 96% when combining 'very satisfied' and 'satisfied' responses, placing it alongside Castilla-La Mancha and Galicia. In fact, around 72% of foreign visitors to the Region of Murcia say they are 'very satisfied' with their stay!
Foreign tourism continues to grow steadily in the Region of Murcia. Official figures show 1,211,595 international visitors last year, up by almost 6% compared with the previous year, according to Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE). While still behind Spain's major tourist hotspots in overall numbers, the Region is gradually strengthening its position on the international stage.
The survey also highlights how positive the experience is once visitors arrive. Seven in ten international tourists describe themselves as 'very satisfied', above the national average of 69.45%.
Across Spain, Murcia now sits among the best-rated regions for visitor satisfaction, just behind Castilla-La Mancha (96.2%) and Galicia (96.19%), and ahead of established destinations such as the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Community and Cataluña.
Even at the lower end of the scale, satisfaction remains high nationwide, with all regions scoring strongly overall in the latest Turespaña analysis.
Murcia has held onto its own character and doesn't feel overrun or overly commercialised like some of Spain's bigger tourist hotspots. A lot of visitors seem to like that it still feels quite authentic, where things haven't been completely shaped around mass tourism. Murcia is also reasonably priced compared to many other coastal areas, whether that's eating out, accommodation, or just day-to-day costs.
Just 2.29% of visitors gave neutral responses, while 1.14% said they were dissatisfied and 0.57% very dissatisfied.
Hostetur says the survey reflects the full visitor experience, including accommodation, food and drink, leisure, transport, infrastructure and connectivity.
The organisation also stresses that building a strong tourism destination takes time, with Murcia’s international market still relatively small compared with Spain's major regions. However, it says growth in recent years has been 'very significant', particularly linked to second homes and long-stay residential tourism.
Image: Archive
Address
Plaza Cardenal Belluga. Edificio Ayuntamiento 30004 MURCIATel: 968 358 749
Oficina de Turismo de Murcia
For dedicated Murcia City section with exhibition and cultural programmes and general tourism information, Click MURCIA CITY.
The Tourist office in Plaza Belluga is the main tourist office for the city and is conveniently located opposite the Cathedral and close to the Glorieta underground car parking.
The tourist office is open from Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sundays from 10am to 2pm
Telephone number: 968 358 749
Click for map, Plaza Belluga Murcia
Tourist information points:
Santa Clara
Maps of the city and leaflets are also available from the Tourist Information point in Calle Santa Clara, which is just behind the Teatro Romea and close to the Plaza de Santo Domingo.
This is open from Monday to Friday from 4.30pm to 8.30pm, on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm and 4.30pm to 8.30pm and on Sundays and Festival days from 10am to 2pm.
Click for map, Calle Santa Clara.
Information point Juan Carlos I
Avda. Juan Carlos I. In the ground level of the Pabellón Principe de Asturias.
Opening Time : From Monday to Friday, 4.30pm to 8.30pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm
Click for map, Avenida Juan Carlos I, Murcia
Information point Jardin de Floridablanca ( from beginning of June 2014)
Jardín de Floridablanca,
This information point is being co-operated with the commercial association representing the area and will give information in English and Spanish between the hours of 4.30pm to 8.30pm from Monday to Friday, from 10am to 2pm and 4.30pm and 8.30pm on Saturdays, then 10am to 2pm on Sundays.
Click for map, Jardín de Floridablanca, Murcia
Murcia city is the capital city of the Region of Murcia and has a wide tourism offering, both in the urban centre and in the natural parklands and fertile orchards which surround it. The city owes its existence to the River Segura which attracted the earliest settlers to the river valley, with Iberian remains at the Sanctuary of la Luz, Roman agricultural settlements at Monteagudo, La Alberca and Murtia, then the city itself founded by the Moors in 825AD.
The remains of the past can be seen in the Murcia Archaeological Museum, the Museo de la Ciudad, The Watermill Museum, the Muralla de Santa Eulalia and the Monastery of Santa Clara. As time moved on, Murcia grew into a splendid Baroque City, its magnificent Cathedral, Iglesia de San Juan de Dios and Salzillo Museum reflecting this era of splendour.
The city is rich in traditions, Semana Santa, the Bando de la Huerta, Burning of the sardine, Fiestas de la 
Primavera, Moors and Christians celebrations adding to the annual Jazz Festival, Folk Festival, Murcia Tres Culturas and many other musical and cultural events to be enjoyed by visitors to the city.
It also has many natural parks and public spaces, as well as the Terra Natura Wildlife park, and its pedanías a varied offering of walking and river sports activities, as well as providing a central base from which to explore the Region of Murcia.
The new International Airport of the Region of Murcia also lies within the Murcian pedanía of Corvera, and the city is well connected via rail and major road networks.
View Murcia in a larger map
