Last minute reservations and the weather will have the last word in the tourist occupation of an early Easter marked in part by the great snowfall a week ago in the Pyrenees. Optimism in mountain and ski destinations, with occupancy that can reach 90%, but also good feelings with a little more caution on the Catalan coast. Pending whether it will be sunny or not starting on Holy Thursday, when the avalanche of visitors is expected on the Costa Brava and the Costa Daurada, as in most destinations, with the forecast of selling between 80% and 90% of plazas.
School and university groups have advanced the activity with sports events in coastal destinations and have also been seen, with numerous groups, in the center of Barcelona.
“We expect an occupancy of around 85%,” says Manel Casals, general director of the Gremi d’Hotels of Barcelona. “With last-minute reservations we could reach 87% occupancy in 2023,” he adds. Domestic demand continues to be predominant (18.8%). American visitors are also growing (13.5%), consolidating themselves as the first foreign market in the Catalan capital. The average stay is 4.2 nights, regardless of the tourist's origin.
The mountain regions predict an occupancy of more than 90%. And the full sign, if the weather cooperates, could be hung in many hotels located at the foot of the ski slopes. For this business, Easter will help close a difficult season with a very good taste in the mouth, with very fair snow in most seasons. Now, when the ski campaign is about to end, the thicknesses exceed one meter. Better late...
It will be the weather and last-minute bookings that will decide the balance in Girona and Tarragona. "If the weather is favorable, we can achieve high occupancy in hotels, campsites and apartments, and perhaps a record during this period on the coast but also in the interior", emphasizes Berta Cabré, president of the Business Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of the province of Tarragona (FEHT). On average, 80% of accommodation spaces are expected to be sold.
Some destinations on the Costa Brava and the Costa Daurada will hang the banner completely thanks to sports tourism that during these days has already become visible in Lloret de Mar, Salou or Cambrils. 40,0000 athletes will pass through the Tarragona coast alone until April 1.
The president of the Gremi d'Hotelers of Lloret de Mar, Enric Dotras, explains that hotel accommodation will be close to 90% thanks to this type of tourism, and also family tourism. The MICFootball tournament alone will add more than 33,000 overnight stays. National and French tourism will be the majority along the entire Catalan coast, from north to south.
In inland hotel establishments such as La Garrotxa and the city of Girona, seven out of every ten rooms will be filled. There will be similar records in the regions of Tarragona.
From the Tourist Association of Costa Brava-Pyrenean Apartments in Girona, they note that during these days there is a great deal of last-minute booking activity. If the good weather is confirmed, the occupation in the interior and in the Pyrenees will be close to full. Eight out of ten reservations in mountain or inland areas come from the Barcelona area.
The lack of snow has discouraged many skiers in recent months. Baqueira-Beret has been saved from this situation, having more snow than the rest. Therefore, this first spring break is expected to help improve the economic balance of the ski business season.
In the case of Lleida, the vice president of the Patronat de Turisme, Juan Antonio Serrano, highlights the “optimism” of the entire tourism sector. The final stretch of the ski season, which most resorts extend until April 7 due to the optimal current state of the resorts, coincides with the start of the adventure sports business. Another attraction that attracts many tourists during Holy Week.
