During the 19th Congress of Spanish Hoteliers held at the Palau de Congressos in Palma, Carmen Riu, chief executive of RIU Hotels and Holiday Villages, voiced a candid critique about the recognition and support received by Spain’s tourism sector. She pointed to a disconnect between world leaders in tourism and the local industry, noting that many hoteliers feel unseen by the central government. She observed that American firms are recruiting Spanish hospitality professionals to impart lessons on hospitality and management, signaling an urgent need to reevaluate how holiday companies are governed and guided. Riu echoed a broader expectation that the state will channel substantial investment into upgrading mature tourist destinations, describing this as essential for the sector’s sustained competitiveness and service quality on the global stage.
Simón Pedro Barceló, co-chair of Grupo Barceló, added a forceful perspective. He argued that the industry warrants more attention and stronger, more consistent support from public authorities. Barceló emphasized that tourism policy should be a priority for the government and expressed hope that a new legislative session will bring tangible improvements over the previous one. He also touched on the recent administrative shifts within the ministry charged with consumer affairs, noting a sense that the sector had not been receiving value-added recognition. Barceló asserted that steps have already been taken to address these gaps and to elevate the sector’s profile across all autonomous communities, underscoring a continuous push for clearer, more effective promotion of Spain as a premier tourism destination abroad.
On the other hand, Carmen Riu highlighted some negative dimensions of tourism as well. She stressed that tourism is not a mere source of benefits for destinations but a complex activity that must be managed to maximize positive outcomes while mitigating downsides. Her message called for a balanced approach that pairs the benefits of travel with concrete actions to reduce overcrowding, environmental impact, and pressure on local communities. Javier Águila, president of Hyatt Hotels Corporation for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, joined the roundtable to advocate for greater investment in the sector. He affirmed that Spain already leads globally in many aspects of tourism and argued that the country needs the right tools and sustained support to keep advancing. Águila provided examples from other nations, noting how Greece and Saudi Arabia have pursued comprehensive shifts in their economies to place tourism at the center of growth, and he suggested that Spain should pursue a similarly integrated approach to reinforce its leadership and expand opportunities for hospitality professionals and related businesses.