Tendencias del mercado

🏨 Hotelier associations in the Balearic Islands are urging the PP to reconsider the "March amendment" of the Administrative Simplification Decree, which would allow illegal rural homes to be used for tourism. The Balearic Government assures that no new tourist accommodations will be created. Hotelier federations of Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza and Formentera express concern over the potential legalization for tourism purposes, emphasizing the need for balance between economic development and housing rights for residents. The government commits to combating illegal tourist offerings.

✈️ El Prat airport ranks as the best in Europe for low-cost airline connections, placed 8th globally in the Megahubs 2024 report. Vueling and Ryanair hold about 60% of operations; Vueling dominates with 73% of low-cost flights and 40% total share, whereas Ryanair has approximately 17%. In August, Vueling transported over 2.1 million passengers (39% of the airport's total) and Ryanair nearly 900,000 (16%). Other notable low-cost carriers include Wizz Air (248,297 passengers), Easyjet (225,528), and Volotea (44,371). Despite this, El Prat lags in long-haul flights ranking 43rd globally, behind Barajas Airport in Madrid at 28th. Expansion plans could improve intercontinental flights but face political challenges.

🏨 Saudi Arabia to invest $55 million for the expansion of North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. This investment will increase the airport's capacity from 300,000 to 700,000 passengers. The deal, signed by Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister Isaac Chester Cooper, reflects Saudi Arabia's strategy to diversify its economy using its financial surplus derived from oil sales, akin to Qatar and the UAE's tourism-driven economic models.

🏖️ In July, tourism sector employment in Spain hit a record with 13.7% of all Social Security contributors, surpassing June and May figures. This represents an 11% increase compared to July 2019. Only 17.5% of tourism workers are self-employed, with the rest on payroll under collective agreements. August data is not yet available, but expectations hint at another historic month, although typically lower than July. The sector usually accounts for 11% of Spain's GDP, which is expected to have risen.

🏖️ Grecia, con turismo aportando 19% al PIB y empleando a 800,000 personas, recibió más de 32 millones de visitantes en 2023. El gobierno griego, liderado por el primer ministro Kyriakos Mitsotakis, implementará impuestos sobre alquileres turísticos, hoteles y alojamientos de abril a octubre del próximo año. Los ingresos se destinarán a infraestructura local. En Atenas, se prohíben nuevos alquileres turísticos por un año y se introducirá una tarifa de 20 euros por turista en cruceros en Santorini y Mikonos en temporada alta. La construcción en la caldera de Santorini se suspenderá para protegerla.

🏖 Mundiplan, backed by Iberia, IAG7, and Alsa, to manage over 100,000 seats, a 20% increase from last year. They offer an extensive schedule of departures from all provinces, with chartered flights from regional airports including San Sebastián, Vitoria, La Coruña, Zaragoza, Burgos, Valladolid, Pamplona, and León. New international travel destinations for senior tourists span Europe, Africa (North and Central), South America, and Asia, covering capitals, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Costa Rica, Colombia, India, Thailand, and Sri Lanka available throughout the season. The program is tailored for tourists over 55, with fixed prices to ensure a good experience without surprises.

🏙 Saudi Arabia's government has made hotel, apartment, and tourist residence licenses free nationwide to boost tourism and reduce oil revenue dependency, aligning with Vision 2030 goals to make the country a top global destination. Cultural practice changes are being implemented to attract investors and open markets, alongside large resort developments in the west and a new global standard airline initiative.

🏖️ CIS survey in July 2024 shows that 77% of Spaniards have taken or will take vacations within the year. With vacations deemed 'very or quite important' by 90.8% of respondents, most prefer domestic travel, with 68% vacationing within Spain, 6.4% abroad, and 23.6% both. Majority vacation 1-2 weeks (29.4%), stay in hotels/apart-hotels (45.2%), and prefer sun and beach destinations (53%). Over half organize trips online (63.3%), and 86.2% travel with companions.

💰 Imserso's tourism program currently offers 886,269 places per season, a decrease from the peak of 1.2 million trips in the 2017/2018 season. With nearly three million pensioners set to receive accreditation letters, there is less than one available spot for every three individuals. Carlos Garrido of Ávoris states while sufficient places exist, pensioners may not always get their preferred trip, citing availability issues such as specific desires to travel to the Canary Islands in November. Complaints have surfaced about the unequal distribution of trips, with some pensioners unable to secure a single trip while others book multiple packages.

💰 The Imserso travel program will start selling 886,269 slots for the 2024-2025 season on September 23. The ETIAS is expected to be operational by mid-2025, affecting non-EU tourists traveling next summer. Royal Caribbean orders a fourth Icon-class mega cruise ship, with construction by Meyer Turku. The program offers trips to Spanish provincial capitals from October 2024 to June 2025. Nearly three million letters (2,853,985) are being sent to pensioners at a rate of about 200,000 per day for reservations. Rafa Nadal and Abel Matutes are planning branded residences on the Costa del Sol. Tourist saturation in Galicia is of increasing concern, with a 5.6% growth in arrivals in the first half of the year.