- Gara S.
- posts tourism holiday
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- holiday, tourism

SUMMER 2020
A SUMMER WITH DEVASTATING EFFECTS IN THE TOURISM SECTOR
Far it is for Spain the top destination rank that it has obtained for seven consecutive years thanks to the arrivals of foreign tourists.
And the fact is that the tourism sector in Spain this year has closed the worst summer in its history due to the coronavirus pandemic.
International arrivals have been drastically reduced, with the arrival of tourists in June being completely zero due to the recommendations not to travel to Spain.
The same happens with national tourism, which has also suffered due to the economic crisis triggered by the global pandemic, as well as the fear of contagion and mobility restrictions within Spain.
The figures are clear
During the first nine months of the year, barely 17 million tourists were reached, and in the most important season of the year, from June to September, a total of 6,250,000 foreign tourists were reached, which represents a decline of 83% in international tourism if we take into account that in the summer of 2019 a total of 37 million were received.
French tourists have been the ones who have trusted the most in Spain, but their number also fell by 63%, on the other hand, Americans were the most cautious and 96% avoided traveling to the Spain mainland.
The regions of Spain, punished this summer
If we take into account the places that most tourists tend to receive, such as the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, the Canary Islands and Andalusia, we are facing the regions of Spain that have suffered the most this summer.
And, for example, the Balearic Islands is the one that enters the most per foreign visitor, achieving in August 2019 a figure of 2,800 million euros. For its part, Catalonia receives almost the same, followed by the Canary Islands and Andalusia, communities for which the pandemic has meant a loss of 1,500 million euros compared to last year.
In total, an August without tourism has caused losses of 11,800 millions for the whole Spain.
The decrease in tourists far beyond the coastal areas
Madrid, the Spain's capital, has also been severely affected, since in addition to not receiving tourism the city is experiencing a situation of uncertainty, fear and concern, both due to the coronavirus and for the havoc it is leaving, including major economic losses.
This year the preference has been rural tourism
Despite the little tourism that has taken place this summer, those who have done so have opted for more rural options, away from the hustle and bustle, and although the figures have not been as positive as in other years, it is true that inland and close tourism has worked well this summer.
Hotels extend their season
To add a little more benefit to the tourism sector, hotels and other accommodations are extending their season so that people who have not traveled in the strongest months due to fear of contagion, can do so now more safely in the months of September to December.
An option for tourists to spread out and not crowd as always happens every summer in Spain. And since there have not been any kind of outbreaks in the hotels thanks to its measures, many of them already have a high occupancy for these coming months.
Meanwhile, the solution is in our hands
Until the long-awaited vaccine arrives and the situation improves, it is time to continue taking all the pertinent precautions, such as wearing a mask, keeping your distances and sightseeing responsibly.
Because, without a doubt, the tourism will go up again, and together we will achieve it.