The first Holy Week with COVID-19 as a backdrop came just two weeks after the alert was declared, and most people spent it at home. In the following year, the fourth wave arrived, and in regions like Catalonia restrictions caused many restaurants to close early, limiting dining to a few tourists and hotels to a sliver of business. It wasn’t until the third week that the sector anticipated a fuller reopening of hotels, country houses, bars, and restaurants, aiming to recover some of the revenue seen before the virus disrupted normal life.
The government projected that 80% of foreign visitors would return to pre-pandemic levels. Yet even with notable improvement from the previous two years, Easter 2023 would still see many businesses operating at reduced capacity, with hiring and activity not yet matching pre-crisis norms.
Uncertainty surrounding the war in Ukraine, higher flight prices and the slow rebound of convention tourism explaining limited recruitment expectations seen by temporary employment agencies, according to industry sources.
Randstad notes that during Holy Week in total 63,380 contracts were registered across Spain in passenger transport, hospitality, and entertainment, sectors that traditionally drive employment. It was double the number of contracts from the prior year, yet only half the 2019 level.
Adecco, acknowledging the high volatility of the situation, refrained from forecasting for the year ahead. A regional manager, Victor Tatay, explained that hiring would begin only a few days before Easter, with significant uncertainty. Logistics would be strengthened, but not to the extent seen before the pandemic, and the food industry would pull strongly but not at pre-pandemic levels. Many businesses remained unsure which contracts to pursue under the new workforce reform. [Source: Adecco statements]
New rules
The new contracting methods took effect on March 31 and since then most common employment contracts and service contracts cannot be signed in the same way as before. Many firms previously extended temporary arrangements through Easter into the summer without clear justification. The new framework, while provisional in intent, allows companies to enable and disable contracts based on peak demand. This policy shift has prompted questions from many small and medium-sized enterprises about how to maintain continuity while complying with the new rules.
Industry stakeholders in Barcelona report doubts and a lack of full understanding of the change. One professional asked how to keep doing the same work under a different contract name. The response from the employment promotion broker for the Barcelona City Council highlighted the need for a broader planning horizon across sectors. Active Barcelona has a helpline for businesses and workers to address these questions. Official contact for guidance is available through public channels.
Delays follow
Two indicators suggest tourism activity has not yet reached full capacity: delays in processing permits are rising and businesses are negotiating new operational permits in the hotel sector. The secretary of the CCOO services federation in Catalonia noted that expectations had been that the government would activate a RED Mechanism for hospitality, but this did not occur. Major hotels in Barcelona and surrounding areas reported receiving permit updates by March 31, with new filings continuing through the period.
Those eligible for special assistance under the RED Mechanism include travel agencies. Despite a sizable share of the sector being connected to COVID-era programs, many firms did not rely heavily on this resource. Large agencies and organizer brands have chosen to either pause operations for productive reasons or proceed with more flexible arrangements that allow potential layoffs later if circumstances require. Until April 1, the government had not published the activation of the RED Mechanism in the official bulletin. Companies are urged to plan and choose among the options available.
The broader travel and hospitality sector continues to adapt to evolving policy and market conditions. The approach emphasizes flexibility in staffing and contracting, while firms assess how best to align with new labor reforms and post-pandemic demand patterns. [Source: industry associations and agency comments]
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