Journal

8.7% fewer people visited Spain last year and a programme of modernisation and new destinations is now aimed at reversing the trend. Costa Brava hoteliers have invested huge amounts this winter refurbishing hotels and building kiddies' playgrounds, as well as soccer pitches, swimming pools and other sporting facilities. A national emphasis is being laid on culture and the arts too. The avant-garde city of Barcelona hosts 6m visitors every year for instance - many from abroad. Hoteliers and tour operators in nearby coastal towns are working hard to attract some of those visitors to the region's seaside resorts as well.

Number Cruncher:

German companies that went bankrupt in 2009 left debts behind totalling €85bn - more than Germany spent on its last economic stimulus package. One reason behind the staggering level of outstanding debt was the demise of several major corporations last year, like Karstadt parent Arcandor. Arcandor's collapse was part of a wave which saw the number of bankruptcies here rise again for the first time in 6 years. At the same time the total of outstanding debts spiralled upwards by more than 100 percent on 2008.