Summer tourist accommodations projected to be nearly full on Catalan coast; around 60% full inland

Barcelona (ACN) – The Catalan tourism sector expects a good season this summer in regard to occupancy of tourist accommodations, as reported to ACN by unions and employers in the country. Catalonia has attracted more tourists than any other region in Spain since the start of 2015, according to the Survey of Tourist Movements at Borders (Frontur), released by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism. Barcelona, with apartment occupancy around 85% and coastal regions of Girona – which is on the cusp of full occupancy during August – are the areas that will attract the highest demand for tourist accommodations. The interior of Lleida expects occupancy to exceed 65%, while the Pyrenean part will be full for the whole week of 15 August. As for Central Catalonia, occupation can swing between 60% and 80%, and in Tarragona it will depend on last-minute reservations. 

Following a 5.2% increase in foreign visitors to Catalonia from January through May compared to 2014, tourist agents in the Barcelona metropolitan area are facing the start of the summer season with optimism, especially in coastal destinations. In May 2015, French tourists visited Spain at a rate 18% higher than the same period in 2014, and that growth is projected to continue into the summer. However, Catalan and Spanish markets are fundamental to ensure high occupancy in different types of accommodations.

APARTUR, Barcelona's tourist apartment association, trusts the economic recovery in Spain as a whole will allow at least a repeat in last year's levels, with occupancy figures up to 85% in August. The coastal camping and hotel sector, meanwhile, predicts a slight improvement in occupancy rates over those of 2014.

Girona expects to be near-full this August

The tourism sector in areas of Girona expect to achieve good occupancy figures this summer, even hoping to surpass last year's numbers. Although the Hotel Federation (Federació Hostaleria) refused to release figures, campsites, tourist apartments and rural houses will be nearly full for the first three weeks of August. The volume of reservations currently exceeds 90% during the first three weeks of August, but that should drop to 80-85% during the last week of the month.

Campsites also predict a good August, "the month that doesn't fail", according to the President of the Camping Association of Girona, Miquel Gotanegra. The problem, he said, will be to achieve  a "decent" July because in less than a week the occupancy numbers are "not be extraordinary". "If nothing else we expect a good season on the whole", he emphasised.

Occupancy for tourist apartments usually relies on last-minute bookings. So, depending on those reservations, occupancy could surpass 65% in July, a "fair" number, according to the Manager of the Tourist Apartment Association, Àngela Galceran. According to Ramon Corominas, President of the Girona Rural Tourism Association, its associated establishments are already fully booked for the last week of July and the first three weeks of August and, if last-minute bookings are taken into account, they will flirt with 70% occupancy during the first three weeks of July, a figure that would exceed last year's by far.

Central Catalonia bookings in flux

The hotel sector in Central Catalonia is optimistic about this summer and hopes that occupancy will be quite high. At this moment, reservations lie between 60% and 80%, but the sector believes that that number will grow at the last minute. Rural tourism continues to be one of the strong points for the territory and in some areas – like Berguedà – many houses are already full during August, according to Jordi Pellicer, President of the Rural Tourism Association. Another quintessential tourist destination in the central part of the country is Montserrat, which recorded hotel occupancy at 70%.

Pending last-minute reservations on the Costa Daurada and Terres de l'Ebre

The Salou-Cambrils-La Pineda Hotel Association acknowledged that the start of the season is not the most desired in Tarragona, and currently, predictions for July are on the low side. If last-minute reservations do not start kicking in, a 15% drop in occupancy is foreseen for next month. Rural houses in Terres de l'Ebre also start the season with few closed reservations, and last-minute reservations already salvaged last year's season. On the other hand, occupancy between June and August in Costa Daurada and Terres de l'Ebre campsites is predicted to exceed 60% on average and the sector is confident it can improve on 2014 numbers. The Spanish market will be the main client to the region.