Tendencias del mercado

🏖️ Albania's tourism growth skyrocketed by 55% year-to-date over the same period in 2023, making it the fastest-growing destination among medium or large economies. In September alone, Tirana's airport, the country's primary commercial hub, experienced a 47% increase, surpassing one million visitors. Wizz Air dominates with a 53% share, while Ryanair holds 22%. Albania is primarily a low-cost destination, with visitors commonly utilizing holiday homes for accommodation. By the year's end, excluding the last three months, Tirana airport had over eight million passengers, exceeding the previous year's total of seven million.

✈ Iberia resumed the Madrid-Tokyo route, operating the first flight with 352 passengers on board an Airbus A350. The connection is expected to contribute €100 million to the GDPs of Spain and Japan and create about 1,900 jobs in the first year. Flights will operate three times a week, offering 90,000 seats annually. The route, now the longest in Iberia's network at 14 hours eastbound and 16 hours westbound, bypasses Russian airspace, involving a double crew including four pilots and 10 cabin crew members. In 2023, Madrid hosted 51,741 Japanese travelers and 44,833 from January to August 2024, a 58.5% increase from the previous year. The direct flight aims to recover pre-pandemic Japanese tourism levels to Spain, currently at 62%.

🍔 The Big Mac Index, introduced by "The Economist" in 1986, indicates that in July 2024, Switzerland has the world's most expensive Big Mac at $8.07, while the U.S. price is $5.69, and the Eurozone's is $6.06. Spain's Big Mac costs 5.65 euros. Recent health risks include 23 people affected by food poisoning in Pamplona and 49 individuals across 10 U.S. states, with one death linked to E. coli in McDonald’s "Quarter Pounder with Cheese." The cost of a hamburger's ingredients typically constitutes 20-30% of its selling price, allowing an average profit margin between 15-30% for chains and potentially higher for gourmet establishments.

✈ World2Fly resumed flights this week for Dertour operators (Fischer and Exim Tours) from Prague and Bratislava, a partnership initiated a year ago. The airline's first flight for the season connected Prague with Puerto Vallarta—a new destination this year. The airline, owned by Iberostar, also flies to Phu Quoc, Punta Cana, and Holguín. Last winter season, World2Fly operated flights to Santa Clara, Punta Cana, and Phu Quoc from late October 2023 to early May 2024.

🏖️ Turismo Social, managing the Imserso program's three lots, indicated pensioners can book nature trips for October, November, December, February, March, April, and May. Available five-day trips cost €286.82, covering full board with drinks and guide. Despite complaints of unavailability, spots are open in destinations like Tarragona, Castellón, Valladolid, Madrid, Santander, La Coruña, Cádiz, Oviedo, Jaén, Soria, Pamplona, Bilbao, Segovia, Badajoz, Salamanca, Pontevedra, with specific departures, not nationwide access.

🏨 Spain's hotels set a new summer record with 169.2 million overnight stays in June-September 2024, surpassing 2019's 164.9 million. Hotel prices increased by 7% in September, with an average daily rate (ADR) of €125.2. A historic record was also set in the first nine months of 2024, with 291.62 million overnight stays, a 5.2% rise. September alone saw a 2.8% year-over-year increase, exceeding 39 million stays. Andalusia, Catalonia, and Valencia were top destinations for Spanish residents, while non-residents favored the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and the Canary Islands, with UK and German tourists leading. Hotel prices recorded their most significant increase in Madrid at 15.2%. The ADR reached €125.2, up 7.4% from the previous year, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) hit €96.8, a 9.3% increase from September 2023.

💰 8 de cada 10 personas valoran la atención al cliente tanto como el producto/servicio ofrecido. El factor humano es clave para el 80% de los clientes en la experiencia del cliente. Un buen servicio incrementa en un 91% la posibilidad de repetir compra. Empresas enfocadas en el servicio superan a las rezagadas en experiencia del cliente en un 80%. Las compañías estadounidenses pierden 1.6 billones de dólares por mal servicio. Mejorar la experiencia del trabajador aumenta la satisfacción del cliente. Un servicio al cliente superior puede significar entre un 4 y un 8% más de ingresos. Aumentar la retención de clientes en un 10% puede elevar el valor de la empresa en un 30%. Resolver problemas rápidamente conlleva a un 70% de repetición en la compra. Clientes insatisfechos comparten su mala experiencia dos veces más. Retener un cliente es entre un 5 y un 25% más barato que adquirir uno nuevo. El 82% de gerentes han dejado de hacer negocios por mal servicio. Un cliente con un alto NPS (9-10) vale entre 600% y 1400% más que clientes con bajo puntaje. El 90% de los clientes en EE.UU.

✈ Estados Unidos lidera la conectividad aérea internacional en 2024, seguido por Reino Unido y España, que creció un 11,5% en conectividad. Asia, especialmente China y Japón, registra aumentos de hasta el 75%. España prevé llegar a 115 millones de visitantes extranjeros, aportando más del 15% al PIB. IAG considera adquirir TAP para fortalecer su posición en Brasil y crear un hub dual Madrid-Lisboa.

🏕 Spain is projected to become the number one tourist destination globally by 2040 with 115 million foreign visitors, surpassing France. The tourism sector's contribution to Spain's economy will exceed 15%. A March report by Braintrust forecasted 91 million tourists by the end of 2024, with spending around €125 billion. Visitors from outside Europe, especially Asia and the Americas, will account for at least one-third of tourists, with their spending potentially doubling to an average of €280-€340 per day by 2030-2040, compared to pre-pandemic levels.

🎃 Halloween originates from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of summer and beginning of winter, believed to be a time when the spirits of the dead could return. It merged with All Saints' Day due to Christianity, becoming All Hallows' Eve, later Halloween. In Spain, the celebration's popularity has surged, adopted enthusiastically by the youth influenced by Anglo-Saxon culture through movies and TV. Travel agencies cater to the trend, with Ávoris highlighting themed parks like PortAventura World, Parque Warner, and Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, which decorate and offer special events. Viajes El Corte Inglés (VECI) also focuses on themed parks, with Parque Warner transformed from October 2 to November 3, and collaborates with PortAventura World for Halloween from September 21 to November 10. Additionally, VECI offers thematic itineraries and excursions to culturally rich destinations. W2M emphasizes short trips, launching 73 hotel offers in Andalusia, Levante, Catalonia, Canaries, Balearic Islands, Andorra, Portugal, and urban getaways, with a campaign starting on October 22.