The Assumption Bridge holiday period, stretched from August 14 to 18, closed with a 93.8% occupancy rate in the province of Alicante, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Alicante Provincial Association of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (APHA). The association notes that the final numbers confirm a better-than-forecast performance, with initial projections at 87.5%. Compared to the same bridge in 2023, the figures are slightly lower but sit within a very similar range. Last year concluded with an occupancy rate of 94.2%, 0.4 percentage points higher. APHA emphasized that the outlook for the holiday period is positive: even though occupancy did not rise sharply, room prices showed an improvement over 2023, balancing the overall result.
Occupancy was exceptionally strong across almost all towns. The city of Alicante reached a 95.8% occupancy rate, while the Playa de San Juan registered 98.6%.
Elsewhere in the province, several locations posted standout results. Denia hit 98.6%, Santa Pola reached 98.0%, and El Campello registered 95.4%. More moderate figures appeared in Alcoy at 79.5%, Ibi at 64.0%, Guardamar del Segura at 55.0%, and Villena at 50.0%.
The high occupancy levels were driven by strong last-minute bookings and a notable increase in international tourist demand, which rose by more than three percentage points compared with the previous year.
In related news, the APHA board formally requested a September meeting with Alicante mayor Luis Barcala to discuss sector concerns, including city cleanliness and other issues raised by local stakeholders.