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), with a more select classic like New York. In addition, there will be more trips by Catalans abroad than during Puríssima in 2022: it could surpass that of 2019, before the pandemic.
It will also be a good bridge for Catalan tourist businesses, especially those inland and mountains. There will be many who will stay and do rural and local tourism. The mountain will win the coast, as usually happens every Puríssima, despite mild temperatures and ski slopes very steep in the sky that may make some last-minute reservations dance.
“My favorites are the German Christmas markets: Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Heidelberg, Stuttgart or Dresden. They are the best by far, they were the pioneers. For me there is no color. Alsace is very good, but the big problem is overcrowding", says Laia Díaz, creator of the blog De ruta en familia
European capitals succeed as a destination for the Spanish, but, on the other hand, it will not be a super bridge for Barcelona. "85% of our tourists are international and the business visitor will not come either. It is true that the area around Barcelona comes to spend the shopping day, but in terms of employment it is never good, this bridge; it's usually the beginning of the winter season until the Mobile World Congress arrives in February", explains Manel Casals, general director of the Barcelona Hotel Association.
Despite this, the level of reservations at hotels in the Catalan capital (80.9%) is better than in 2022 (74.4%), according to yesterday's data from the Barcelona Tourism Observatory. "45% of reservations are made by Spaniards, followed by the United States (8.2%), Italy (6.4%), the United Kingdom (5.4%) and France (4.6%)," he adds the report
Yes, it will be a great bridge for rural tourism, from end to end of Catalonia. With much of the hotel park closed in low season on the Costa Brava and the Costa Daurada, all eyes are focused on the mountain and inland areas. In the Pyrenees 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 is approximately two nights and the majority of visitors are Catalan families.
"We have 95% occupancy for the bridge, mainly visitors from Barcelona and the metropolitan area," explains Pilar Miró, from the Terra Alta Rural Tourism Association. The situation is similar to the rural houses of Girona, with many neighbors from Barcelona and the metropolitan area, also mostly families.
Overall, in the regions of Tarragona and Terres de l'Ebre, with only 20% of the offer of hotels, campsites and apartments open, occupancy will be between 70 and 80%. "Mostly, it's close family tourism, from Barcelona, Lleida, Madrid, Valencia, Aragon, 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 open hotel places, occupations will vary depending on the area: between 40 and 50% on the coast of the Alt and Baix Empordà and up to all 80% in the south. The president of the Costa Brava Center group, Judit Lloberol, believes in last-minute bookings and predicts good numbers for the restaurant thanks to the second residences.
There are exceptional cases, such as Lloret de Mar. Several sporting events and congresses guarantee an occupation that is close to full at the 15 open hotels. "There are even athletes who have had to look for accommodation outside the municipality", says the manager of Lloret Turisme, Elizabeth Keegan. In Girona city, they expect to fill 45% of hotel places, according to the Hospitality Federation.
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 fill the plenum. Only 20% of customers will choose to spend five nights in a row away from home. Most will have to settle for two or three nights, the average of reservations.
