Amidst good results and with expectations still bullish for this year, the industry itself and the Managements are launching a new initiative. Warning messages about the need to control this overwhelming growth To avoid saturation of some destinations and social rejection It began to be detected due to coexistence problems caused by overcrowding.
The gentrification of many areas of major cities, the expulsion of the resident population from neighborhoods taken over by tourism, the loss of shops and services for residents to be replaced by others for tourists, rising rents and housing prices on properties, problems of coexistence, and the inconvenience of visitors to some of their leisure practices. …Fear of success dying due to uncontrollable tourism boom Concern that occasional tourismphobia incidents among citizens will become general has begun to spread. The industry seems determined to confront its fears.
Large national tourism companies do not hide their concerns and demand the opening of a reflection to control the social rejection of tourism, which seems to be on the verge of saturation in many destinations. “We must tread carefully because these growths are not sustainable. We must consider whether these growth intensities are feasible and, above all, whether they are socially desirable,” warns José Luis Zoreda, vice president of Exceltur, the lobby that brings together thirty of the world’s largest tourism companies in the country (among them, Meliá, NH, Iberia, Globalia, Riu or Amadeus). “To be socially sustainable, you must manage success.”
The business association began to design a project aimed at involving the entire sector and all administrations to ensure that tourism does not constitute a blow to the resident population. The aim is to regain the local population in major destinations Overcoming the growing questioning regarding both the economic, human and vital benefits of tourism.
mass tourism
“There is no need to grow for the sake of growth when there are destinations that already suffer from overcrowding from time to time. It may be economically possible, but perhaps socially undesirable,” says Zoreda. These concerns and the search for solutions will form the main theme of the large biennial forum that Exceltur will organize on the eve of 2015. International Tourism Fair (Fitur)It will take place in Madrid this week. The debate is not new; Alarm bells have been ringing for years (decades?), warning that the Spanish tourism model needs to be overhauled so that more tourists do not need to earn more.
Last year Spain broke the record for international tourist arrivals with more than 84 million tourist arrivals, and to this boom we must add the same effects caused by the influx of Spanish tourists. With domestic and foreign demand increasing strongly simultaneously, it returns to the center of the debate.Load capacity limits for certain destinations Spaniards.
The Spanish tourism model has traditionally been characterized by embracing tourism.mass tourism, Historically, we compete on customer volume and price rather than quality and high added value. focus most of the work on ‘sun and sand’ and the summer months. Overcrowding, little variety and seasonality. The great success story of tourism in Spain has the relative burden of a triple handicap.
Companies in the sector manage to develop this model. The high season has been extended, and last year too, with very high figures in the spring and autumn, and prices have risen rapidly not only due to the impact of inflation and rising costs due to the explosion of demand, but also due to repositioning. Tourism products following the investments made during the pandemic period. Historically in Spain the majority were niche three star hotels. Currently, the largest hotel portfolio is four-star, and the most growing is five-star hotel portfolio.
As a result, international tourist arrivals in 2023 exceeded 84 million euros, an increase of 1% compared to pre-pandemic records. Spending by these travelers increased by more than 17% to €108,000 million. “We have seen how in 2023, if the products are repositioned, a tourist profile that spends more and does not have a greater influx can be attracted,” says the vice president of Exceltur.
But the industry warns It is necessary to go deeper (but much) on this path and to realize a wish that professionals in the sector have been repeating for decades: Spain competes and achieves growth with a high-value-added, quality offer aimed at tourists with high purchasing power. It doesn’t just depend on the volume of tourists. “This is not about punishing the industry or imposing further restrictions. Nor is this about commercial apathy and devotion to growth for growth’s sake. Growth cannot be unlimited. “You have to use other measurements and manage it with other policies, not just counting how many tourists come,” warns Zoreda.
Manage success
The message that not only more tourists but also more quality is targeted is also put forward by the Government. New Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi HereuLast week, he emphasized the need to “manage tourism” to avoid “coexistence problems” with the resident population, although he relativized the current seriousness of the problem: “It is better to manage the difficulties and problems of success than not to have this success.” he condemned.
The government advocates extending seasons beyond summer as a way to reduce overcrowding in some areas and prevent tourism phobia, as well as progress in deseasonalizing activity; Diversify destinations regionally by promoting tourism products in the interior of Spain beyond ‘sun and beach’; and to attract tourists with greater spending capacity, attracted by more value-added products, especially travelers from other continents, not just from Europe, thus increasing revenue growth for the sector and the country, not so much in visitor arrivals.
Exceltur tourist lobby, featuring many of the major Spanish hotel companies draws attention to the proliferation of illegal tourist apartmentsAbove the limits set by many Spanish municipalities, as the main cause of problems of coexistence with the resident population and the major focus of housing and residential services gentrification of some neighborhoods in major cities. Following the sharp decline in the number of tourist apartments during the pandemic period, the housing stock used for holiday rentals is increasing again and the supply that does not comply with the legislation continues to be large.
“The sector also needs to work to be socially sustainable. Minister Hereu emphasized that “This success must be managed correctly” and pointed out that city councils and autonomous communities must fulfill their functions of organizing the tourist offer, especially when it comes to housing for tourist use. Avoiding conflicts between resident population and tourists due to coincidence on the same properties. “To avoid the phenomenon of a backlash against tourism, the mix of the offer must also be socially sustainable. “We must manage tourism,” he said.