Tourism predicts record Easter despite being the most expensive of holidays

“HE desire to travel above Adverse economic conditions. Prices are rising more than we all want, but desire to travel after a 2020, 2021 and 2022 where not everything is going as we wanted. This will probably be the most expensive vacation Because inflation matches high demand and so? exercises increasing price pressure“, recognizes the vice-president of the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV), Jose Manuel Lastra who waits activity grows between 5% and 10% over 2019 and tourist packages are 10% more expensive, including an average 12% increase in hotel prices and 10% airline tickets.

according to incoming data February CPI published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). beer until hotel rooms Compared to 2017, they are currently 30.5% and 25.5% more expensive, respectively, than pre-coronavirus. The only thing that still appears below pre-pandemic levels is He also states that airfares are higher even though they are in the sector. from Airline Association (ALA) accept this tickets are usually more expensive because costs have risen, but their distribution is uneven, as some companies undertake them and others turn them over.

In any case, the industry hopes to make its mark this week. It’s the start of the tourist boom, which they predict will accelerate in the summer. They came to Spain in 2022 71.6 million tourists14.3% less than the record 83.7 million registered in the year before the coronavirus. This 2023 looks like this across all pools: return to normal And so far the prospects are good. They came to this country in January 4.1 million foreign touristsOnly 100,000 less than in 2019, with a rebound of European tourists, especially from the UK, and a good welcome from Americans. But they also call for “moderate optimism” and “caution” due to the macroeconomic situation. (with inflation, war and interest rates) what could it be reducing purchasing power and restricting consumption.

80% occupancy

Spanish airports from Friday 31 March to Monday 10 April Aena scheduled 60,498 inbound and outbound flights1.5% more than last year and 4.6% below 2019. Airline from Monday 2-10 April Iberia With almost 420,000 seats, it plans to use 6% more capacity than at Easter 2019, and Vueling has strengthened its capacity on more than 130 routes, including Barcelona to London, Florence and Ibiza, and the route between Seville and Bilbao. Renfe will place close to his share 2 million more seats As Andalusia opens, ahead of “high demand” forecasts the arrival of the competition on the train, with his hand iryo Company, starting on friday The road connecting Madrid with Seville, Malaga and Cordoba.

Also they Hotels expect good numbers this week. According to employer Cehat, By mid-March, beach hotels reached 80%, reservations inland reached 65% and campsites reached 95%, to be added last minute tourists this could bring occupancy closer to full capacity in coastal areas. The decrease in cancellations and the increase in reservations made with advance notice further strengthen the optimism about the return to normal. “The projections show a promising perspective,” said the head of Cehat. Jorge Marichal last Thursday.

The main Spanish hotel, MeliaIt has an occupancy rate of 75% in holiday hotels, 60% in urban hotels, and can reach 75%-80% in holiday hotels. Cities like Palma de Mallorca and in the case of the Canary Islands it exceeds 80%. Executing company Gabriel Escarer Projects sales to be 30% above 2019 sales after all hotels are registered in 2022 Double-digit growth at the average daily rate. Group palladiumfor its part, one foresees Around 80% occupancy worldwideslightly higher than recorded last year.

Return of the Internationals

If it was domestic tourists who kept the industry alive during the pandemic, most indicators point to a month after covid. strong rebound travel request International Tourism with the passengers The main buyer countries are already in the first month of the year. The recovery of tourists from the three main countries is particularly good: United Kingdom, France and Germany. but also for him Trouble-free operation of American tourists. “Despite inflation, the US market is strong and airlines are taking advantage. Just as Caribbean destinations took the cake during the pandemic, now it’s time for Spain, Portugal and Greece, which are experiencing significant growth. Also, Latin America is the most premium segment for big cities like Madrid”, explains the head of Market Intelligence for the ForwardKeys platform, Juan A. Gomez.