Tendencias del mercado

✈ Tourist arrivals by air in Spain increased by 12% compared to the first seven months of the last year. Growth was concentrated in Valencia, Catalonia, and Andalusia, over 15%, with 7% in the Balearic Islands and 10% in the Canary Islands. The UK led with 22% of total arrivals, followed by Germany at 13%, half of which were to the Balearics. Notable increases were seen from the UK (8%), Germany (11%), and Italy (16%), with Poland surging by 55%, totaling 262,000 arrivals, nearly equal to the US. In July, Polish tourists grew by 38% compared to the same month the previous year, coinciding with significant operations in Spain by low-cost carriers Wizz Air and Ryanair.

🏖️ 74% of Canary Islands residents believe tourism boosts economic development, attracts investments, and promotes local products consumption, as per ECOSOC survey by ISTAC for Q2 2024. However, 70% acknowledge tourism raises the cost of living and housing, with 62% citing it causes precarious employment. Over half see negative environmental impacts, with 62.1% noting increased resource consumption and 57.1% irreversible ecosystem damage. Regarding a tourist tax, 43% support it, while 83% oppose it for residents on vacation in the islands.

🏖️ Comunidad Valenciana leads Spanish autonomous communities in tourism growth with a 15.9% increase over last year, followed closely by Catalonia at 15.4%, and Andalucia at 15.3%. The Balearic Islands lag with a 7% rise year-to-date and 4.7% in July. The UK accounts for 22% of Spain's tourists, over 13 million by August 1. Germans follow with 8 million (13%), Italians approach 5.8 million (nearly 10%), while France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, and Ireland also contribute significantly. The USA remains the top non-European sender of travelers to Spain.

🎤 Ramón Mas, President of the National Federation of Leisure and Entertainment Business Owners (España de Noche), anticipates a summer revenue increase of 0.95% over 2023 for nightlife venues. The "Summer Perspectives Study" by España de Noche and Coca-Cola reveals that 38.2% of nighttime entertainment customers are tourists during the summer, a 29% rise compared to other seasons. Establishments expect 15.1% national tourists, 16.8% from EU countries, and 6.3% from non-EU countries. Over half of the discos and bars (64.6%) remain open in July and August, with 100% operational on Fridays and Saturdays. The average age of customers slightly increases above 31 years during summer. Measures to attract tourists include 37% of venues employing multilingual staff, and a noted 7% revenue decline for inland businesses due to regional tourism disparities.

🏨 En julio, España vio un aumento anual del 4,7% en precios de hoteles, bares y restaurantes. Galicia experimentó el mayor aumento con 6%, mientras que Extremadura tuvo el menor con 3,2%. Baleares destacó con un incremento del 9% en lo que va de año. Los paquetes turísticos aumentaron un 2,4% en julio comparado con el año anterior y un 20,6% en lo que va de año.

🌅 Urban tourism in cities like Madrid and Sevilla has adapted to climate challenges, maintaining high summer occupancy rates despite traditionally challenging hot weather. Cristina de la Cruz from GRC IM highlights the thriving summer bloom in these cities, where temperatures can reach 44 degrees Celsius. Despite heat, tourists continue to visit these destinations all year round. Arup suggests coastal cities counter climate impacts through nature-based solutions, enhancing biodiversity and environmental quality while creating resilient infrastructures against extreme weather events.

🏕 TUI Group's high season bookings are up 6% over the previous year, despite a 3% price increase. For the current summer, 88% of the capacity has been sold, with the UK market up 5% and TUI Germany customers up 10% compared to last summer. The UK winter program has sold 32%, with bookings at the same level as last year. TUI's full-year 2024 guidance is based on a strong increase in underlying EBIT, with improvements in Hotels & Resorts and Cruises.

🌡 Experts predict a 'megathrust' earthquake in Japan's southeast region, affecting tourism during the Bon holiday week when many workers are off. Last week, Japan's meteorological agency warned of an earthquake after a minor tremor in Miyazaki. Tourist businesses report mass reservation cancellations, even newly renovated ones. Several Shizuoka beaches closed due to a lack of lifeguards who left due to the earthquake threat. The anticipated quake zone is along the Nankai fault, marked in red on maps.

🏖️ Spanish nationals rank among the most avid seekers of unique experiences while traveling, with 31% expressing this desire, placing them ninth on the Statista Consumer Insights ranking led by South Africa at 54%. This study spanned July 2023 to the previous month, surveying 21 countries where on average, 38% sought unique travel experiences. Global tourism recoveries show 1.3 billion arrivals in 2023, shy of the 1.5 billion in 2019. China leads in tourism spending with $197 billion, followed by the U.S. ($150 billion), Germany ($112 billion), and the U.K. ($110 billion). Overall, incoming tourist revenues, including flights, hit $1.5 trillion in 2023.

🏦 In Spain, €1.385 billion were invested in hotels during the first half of the year, with Barcelona accounting for 21% (€285 million) of the total. The Baleares led with 29%, followed by Canarias at 16%. There were 12 transactions in Barcelona totaling 1,163 rooms. Luxury hotels attracted 36% of the investment in the city, approximately €100 million, with significant deals including Atom Hoteles Socimi acquiring Hotel Miramar and Gran Hotel La Florida for €50 million, and the sale of Ocean Drive Barcelona for €52 million. Other notable sales were the Hampton by Hilton Barcelona at €50 million and Hotel Ciutat Barcelona for €29 million. Azora purchased Jacobs Inn in Barcelona and another property in Dublin for €55 million, while Bestprice Hoteles acquired Bestprice Barcelona Stadium for €1.5 million. Spanish investors represented 38% of the market share, followed by UK investors at 21%, with 'prime' hotel yields stable at 5.25% in Barcelona.