The industry ministry announced that the arrival of worldwide holidaymakers in Spain climbed up 3.2% in March 2010 to 3.5 million, the largest monthly increase since May 2008.

The data showed an improvement with regard to facts provided in recent months by the ministry's Tourism Studies Institute.

During Feb this year, tourist arrivals declined by 1.5%.

The review published on Thursday also mentioned that during the last year, tourist arrivals fell down 8.7%.

The highest number of holidaymakers, 22% of the total, came from Britain, but it recorded the only decline among the main tourist-sending markets.

The airports, utilized by almost 80% of Spain's visitants, were the access path which grew most, 3.3%, whereas roads, through which 688,000 holidaymakers made entry into Spain, surged 2% as the route for tourist arrivals. (With Inputs from Agencies)