Near full occupancy expected in Catalonia's tourism sector for August

Catalonia has kicked off August with a near full occupancy forecast for hotels, campsites, rural houses and tourist apartments.

The sector ended July with high occupancy rates across the region, and expectations are high for this month as well.

"There is always more activity in August," notes Xavier Guardià, spokesperson for the Tarragona Hotel Association (FEHT).

Coastal areas are expecting occupancy rates of up to 90%, despite a notable drop in French visitors.

"The Paris Olympics are having an impact. The French, who usually come at the end of July, may stay this year to watch the Olympics and come at the end of August," says Guardià.

However, the drop in French tourists has been balanced by an influx of visitors from England and Ireland, according to David Riba, president of Federatur.

In fact, the tourism sector believes that this temporary drop in French visitors could lead to an exceptional extension of the peak period into early September.

Despite the high occupancy rates in coastal areas, the sector is seeing a shift towards rural destinations to escape the heat.

As Catalonia experiences its first heat wave of the summer, more visitors are choosing mountain destinations.

In Lleida, shelters and hostels are forecasting occupancy rates of 85%-95% for the first half of August.

Rural houses in Central Catalonia are also expecting good occupancy rates for August, around 80%.

"Tourists are looking for the pleasant climate of the Pyrenees to avoid the intense heat that is typical of the lowlands," says Juli Alegre, director of the Lleida Provincial Tourist Board.