Rural tourism has also had a tough time due to restrictions during the pandemic, but when the situation permits, it has managed to attract customers interested in tourism, precisely because of the presence of covid. sought quiet places away from the crowds to spend your vacation. Well, we’re back to normal, and in what can be considered the first litmus test, the industry has seen how this customer has become loyal, so much so that the vast majority of stays in the state will hang the entire poster during this holy month. Reaching a billing that will be very close to the week two million euros. And all this despite the fact that the lifting of the restrictions mentioned above has also mobilized coastal destinations and competition is fierce once again.
Two years have passed when the effects of the pandemic, in which the tourism sector has become one of the most affected sectors, as a result of mandatory closures and strict regulations from both central and regional governments to protect against infections. . However, in this complex scenario, rural accommodation was better able to weather the storm. Ramón Reche, vice-president of the Alicante Domestic Tourism Association, said, “When work was possible, such establishments were in greater demand as people sought less crowded places. where I could enjoy nature.
Doubt was to see if after restrictions are liftedand with coastal destinations approaching full capacity, high levels of activity can be maintained. And the answer came this Easter, when rural establishments managed to consolidate their customers and once again put themselves on the brink of occupancy. Stating that the houses are almost completed and the hotels are approaching this level, Reche confirms this.
And for example, a button. Toni Serrano, owner of the Cases Noves hotel in Vall de Guadalest, said: “We’ve been fully booked for a long time, and the travel voucher partially provided by Generalitat has also helped. These are very strong dates. So much so that if there were any cancellations, we had no problem refilling. won’t happen”. According to his words, most of the customers are of national origin“Besides these important dates, we have a high density of foreign tourists,” he said.
Something very similar is happening at rural home L’Alqueria del Pilar in Banyeres, where its manager, María Admirable Gimeno, said: “The epidemic has been negative for everyone, but we have managed to maintain good activity, which is confirmed this Holy Week that we wrap up” . innovation, “later a time when groups couldn’t meetNow they are back with the end of restrictions, so it can be said that we are back to normal and things are going well.”
As a result, those who are late with the reservation may still have a chance. According to a spokesperson, Sade Torres, this is the case with Hotel La Escondida in Penàguila, “we still have a roomWe think that there are people who want to take the opportunity to go to the beach after the bad weather conditions we have experienced in the last few weeks.
While activity is in full swing in rural accommodation, the same is not happening in inland city hotels. According to Ramón Reche, “in these times, people tend to go to the beach or to the countryside more. It can be said that when they cannot find a place to stay in rural tourism establishments, they turn to the cities”.
The industry is also against the tourism tax
It is not only the coastal tourism sector that rejects the tourism tax intended to be implemented by the Generalitat. Rural accommodation also thinks it’s a bad idea, so they didn’t hesitate to position themselves against it. Ramón Reche, vice president of the Alicante Domestic Tourism association, said: “As we all continue to suffer the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, this is not the time to implement such a measure. This is a tax that will affect customers and may withdraw activity in our area ».
It is hoped from the industry that Consell will finally reconsider the imposition of the rate that is pressured from different areas.