Rural tourism does not falter despite restrictions and the absence of international mobility
The tourism sector will close 2020 with losses of 75% or 76% in international visitors, in addition to tourism spending, according to the Secretary of State for Tourism, Fernando Valdés, which would mean losing 63 million tourists in a year. A severe blow to Barcelona, as tourism represents 12% of the province’s GDP and about 150,000 jobs.
However, although foreign tourism has collapsed, overnight stays in rural tourism accommodation have not stopped. Rural tourism survives the pandemic and this past October, in the middle of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, scale 24.5% compared to the previous year, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Although the total overnight stays in tourist apartments fell due to the lack of foreign demand, there were more national visitors who served as an incentive for the sector.
HLCLUB TEAM