Vigo pursues steady tourism growth across the year
Vigo is a destination that welcomes visitors beyond the traditional summer peak. Local hoteliers, restaurants, and the city council are collaborating to implement a seasonally balanced tourism model. The aim is to extend overnight stays beyond July and August, spreading tourism activity across all seasons. This approach also stabilizes seasonal staff, making jobs more durable and encouraging professionals to invest in the industry, according to Iván Sánchez, president of NH Hoteles and head of the Vigo Hotels Association (Ahosvi).
Industry leaders argue that a constant workforce matters as much as steady demand. Expanding the calendar and hosting more events throughout the year could benefit both the city and employment, enabling staff to stay engaged beyond the summer peak, Sánchez notes.
Today, sustaining summer staff through late autumn and winter presents challenges. Juanjo Figueroa, a restaurant group leader in Casco Vello, explains that keeping employment steady through the year is difficult because tourism tends to dip after the Christmas lights peak and late fall brings a lull for the city.
To demonstrate that year-round activity is feasible, Sánchez and allied groups plan to broaden Vigo’s event calendar with a steady stream of conventions and professional tourism. The Ahosvi president explains that events modeled after established programs like Conxemar or Navalia could anchor occupancy and provide staff with reliable, secure work. This collaboration with the Concello aims to keep the city busy year round.
Business tourism is commonly described by the acronym MICE, which covers conferences, trade shows, exhibitions, and professional travel for both business and leisure. Sánchez believes that adopting this tourism model could unlock Vigo’s potential. A monthly rhythm of major events would distribute visitors, elevate services, and support a stronger professional base for the city.
Tourist apartments as a distinct model
Beyond traditional vacations, a new tourism model is emerging that could shift the profile of visitors. Figueroa notes a rise in guests staying in tourist apartments or condo-style accommodations, which reduces reliance on conventional services because guests cook, rest, and socialize in their own space.
The growth of such lodging is visible in recent changes near Vía Norte and the Fatima Church area, where a nearby restaurant has transitioned into a cluster of tourist apartments within a short walk of the Vialia shopping center. This trend aligns with Vigo’s appeal and complements the city’s hotel capacity, which recently surpassed a symbolic threshold of 50,000 rooms in July, a rise of 8.58 percent from the previous year according to the National Institute of Statistics. Foreign visitors rose by 27 percent, reinforcing the city’s growing international draw. Local hoteliers emphasize that the strongest summer months will always attract the most visitors, but broader economic benefits extend beyond those peak weeks as tourism expands to other months and formats.
Rising costs for electricity and other essentials have squeezed profit margins. Still, the core message remains: travelers continue choosing Vigo, and with careful budgeting and diverse accommodation options, the city can sustain a healthier tourism economy throughout the year.
A model that already attracts thousands for business
Unlike many cities where hotels fill mainly with leisure travelers, Vigo increasingly welcomes guests who arrive for professional reasons. Since 2017, the city has hosted conferences, fairs, and professional meetings that drive visitation and economic activity. Ten years ago this segment was significant, dipped during the crisis, and has regained momentum since the previous year.
From January through July, Vigo’s Convention Bureau reported sixty-four events aimed at promoting business travel through MICE tourism. These gatherings drew about thirty-five thousand attendees, with the Mindtech Fair standing out as a major highlight with thousands of exhibitors. While a metal strike this year temporarily disrupted logistics, overall business tourism continues to grow. The Vigo Convention Bureau expects more events as the year progresses. The most active themes include economics, which accounts for about one third of registrations, followed by medical and scientific topics. The sector’s recent trajectory suggests a robust role for business tourism in Vigo’s economy in the coming years, even after pandemic-related disruptions.