MADRID, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Spai¶★δn is on target for another reco≈©☆>rd year in terms of to"'÷βurist numbers with the state tourism  ♠α↑agency Turespana announcinβ g that the first five months of 2016 s'¶αaw 25 million foreign tourists com¥≈"e to Spain.

That is an 11 percent ris"↔ ↓e on the same periodσε in 2015, which itself saw a rec€"ord 68.2 million foreigners s←✔<φpend their holidays in the country.

While it is true tha>>t Spain has probably€₩§β benefitted from security fears€→✘ over formally popular ≠♦destinations such as Egyp★÷‌ t and Tunisia, Taleb Rifai, the Se γcretary General of t÷ ≥he United Nations World &↑ Tourism Organization (UNWTO) stressedλ↔"" other factors were also vital in Sp±∏ain's success.

"There is a bit of a misco>∞♦nception that Spain isγφ‌↓ benefitting from the © ®decline of problems of ₹​§↑other Mediterranean desti∏"nations, but this is a f £βalse assumption," said Rifai in a★α©n exclusive interview with X∞™λinhua.

"The good performance of the Spanis ∏™∑h tourism sector is primarily down t↓ "€o the good work carried out by Sp©☆♥☆ain, there may be some visitors comin≠≠∑g because of other factors, but people δ₩§are coming because of what Spain  ​≠is right," he stressed.

The UNWTO secretary general highlight✔♦☆ed three areas where the Spanish ‌α≈tourism sector was succeeding, e &xplaining that the f↕→ irst thing was diversifyin‌€ ®g its offer away from the t↔‍raditional sun and beaλφφΩch holidays.

Although that touris♦ ✔ m is still vital, Spain now offers ₹•"gastronomy, wine, culture, vi§•φllages and rural areas, mountain§"s and skiing holidays ... every↓✘thing ..." and this has allowed★<∏ Spain to "meet the challenge ÷₹§$of seasonality, it means tour↑♦×←ists come all year round and wΩ☆hich has doubled or tripled the numb≥©‍£er of visitors," he said.

Secondly, according to Rifai, Spa‌↑₩'in is "concentrating on know♥• ≥how and quality."

"It is crucial to look at what Spa φin is doing in innovation and idea♦<s and maintaining an excellent qu<λλality in its products. It is constantly↔₹☆$ reviewing what it offeε←rs, changing, reviewing and renovatin>→• g," he explained.

As well as keeping its offerγ$ modern and fashionable,∞↕₹ Spain has also workedγ&$ well in promoting its im→™β'age both at tourism fairs, thro✘₹ugh advertising campaigns and∑₹¶↔ also through the use of sociaλ >αl media thought orgaγ"™nizations such as Turespana, regi•λ€onal and local tourist authorities ∏φand Spanish hotel chains.

"You know you are going to hav§★•e a good time in Spain beforπ‍©e you are going to comeα→∑, they have managed to use social medi‍∑π§a and other promotional mea♣★αns to maintain their plan and a ve• ‍ry good image," concluded Rifai.