Rural Tourism Rebounds to Pre‑Crisis Levels
Rural tourism in the province is regaining the energy it had before the crisis. The latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics, released this week, show a pattern very close to the same period in 2019. In Zamora, April visitor numbers indicate a return to the pre‑pandemic baseline, with 7,197 visitors recorded this year compared with 7,236 in 2019 for the same month.
More Foreign Visitors
The standout shift in April 2022 is the rise in foreign travelers staying in rural tourism establishments, in contrast to the same month in 2019. Overseas guests staying overnight increased significantly, rising from 342 to 638 and signaling stronger international interest. This surge comes as the spring season unfolds, with April being a consistently busy month for rural tourism.
Regarding overnight stays, the gap between April 2019 and April 2022 remains modest but noticeable. Before the pandemic, rural tourism businesses in Zamora logged 16,339 overnight stays in April. Three years later, that figure is 15,724, underscoring a solid recovery while reflecting ongoing changes in travel behavior.
A comparison with 2019 remains more aligned than the data from 2021. The prior year saw many restrictions on movement still in place, including border controls and curfews, which conditioned the figures for that period. Even so, the Zamora region demonstrates resilience as travel returns.
Looking at the broader picture, the number of passengers increased by 297 percent compared with April 2021, while overnight stays rose by 244 percent. This growth supports Castilla y León’s role as a leading destination for rural tourism within Spain, reinforcing its appeal to both domestic and international visitors.
No Immediate Transfer to Work
The latest data indicate a clear recovery in the sector, though employment has not yet rebounded to pre‑crisis levels. In Zamora, the April employment figure shows 372 people working in rural tourism, down from 464 in April 2019. By contrast, the same month in 2021 recorded 327 employees, highlighting a gradual upward trend as the industry stabilizes.
Industry stakeholders anticipate continued improvement as the sector adapts to the new market realities. The Zamorana Rural Tourism Association (Aztur) is actively pursuing initiatives to stimulate activity, launching projects that had stalled during the height of the pandemic and now show renewed momentum.
Seasonal dynamics will increasingly shape outcomes, with the approaching summer months expected to bring a renewed wave of visitors. As confidence returns and concerns about the virus ease, the rural tourism sector is positioned to operate at or near full capacity when conditions permit.