The Christmas markets of central and northern Europe, with Germany and Alsace (France) as top destinations. It is the big trend, according to the Corporate Association of Specialized Travel Agencies (Acave), along with a more select classic like New York. There will also be more trips by Catalans abroad than in the Purísima of 2022: it could surpass that of 2019, before the pandemic.
It will also be a good bridge for Catalan tourism businesses, especially those in the interior and mountains. There will be many who will stay and do rural and local tourism. The mountains will win over the coast, as usually happens in each Purísima, despite mild temperatures and ski slopes very close to the sky.
“My favorites are the German Christmas markets: Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Heidelberg, Stuttgart or Dresden. They are the best by far, they were the pioneers. There's no color for me. Alsace is very good, but the big problem is overcrowding,” says Laia Díaz, creator of the blog De ruta en familia. https://es.derutaenfamilia.com/author/laiadiazsegura/
The European capitals succeed as a destination for Spaniards, but on the other hand, they will not be a super bridge for Barcelona. “85% of our tourists are international and business visitors will not come either. Yes, the surroundings of Barcelona come to spend the day shopping, but in terms of occupancy this weekend is never good; It is usually the beginning of the winter season until the Mobile World Congress arrives in February,” explains Manel Casals, general director of the Gremi d’Hotels of Barcelona.
Despite this, the level of reservations in hotels in the Catalan capital (80.9%) is better than in 2022 (74.4%), according to yesterday's data from the Observatori del Turisme a Barcelona. “45% of reservations are from Spaniards, followed by the United States (8.2%), Italy (6.4%), the United Kingdom (5.4%) and France (4.6%),” adds the report. .
Yes, it will be a great bridge for rural tourism, from end to end of Catalonia. With a large part of the hotel park closed in low season on the Costa Brava and the Costa Daurada, all eyes are on the mountain and inland areas. In the Pyrenean regions of Cerdanya and Ripollès, high occupancy rates are expected, between 80 and 90%, according to the Federation of Hospitality of the Girona Regions. The average stay will be around two nights and the majority of visitors are Catalan families.
“We have 95% occupancy for this bridge, especially visitors from Barcelona and its metropolitan area,” explains Pilar Miró, from the Terra Alta Rural Tourism Association. Similar situation in the rural houses of Girona, with many residents of Barcelona and the metropolitan area, also especially families.
Overall, in the regions of Tarragona and Terres de l'Ebre, with only 20% of the offer of hotels, campsites and apartments open, the occupancy will be between 70 and 80%. "Majoritariemente is close family tourism, from Barcelona, Lleida, Madrid, Valencia, Aragón, La Rioja, Navarra and the Basque Country", emphasizes Xavier Guardià, spokesperson for the Business Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of the province of Tarragona (FEHT) .
On the Costa Brava, with between 15% and 20% of the total hotel beds open, occupancy will vary depending on the area: between 40 and 50% on the Alt and Baix Empordà coast and up to 80% In the south. The president of the Costa Brava Center group, Judit Lloberol, trusts in last-minute reservations and foresees good numbers for restaurants thanks to second homes.
There are exceptional cases such as Lloret de Mar. Various sporting events and conferences guarantee an occupancy that is close to full in the 15 open hotels. “There have even been athletes who have had to look for accommodation outside the municipality,” says the manager of Lloret Turisme, Elizabeth Keegan. In Girona city, 45% of hotel beds are expected to be filled, according to the Federació d'Hostaleria. Contrary to what one might think, a bridge that, according to the president of Turisme Rural Girona, Ramon Corominas, “is too long” will not help to make the plenary session. Only 20% of clients will choose to spend five consecutive nights away from home.
