The Diplomat
COVID-19 vaccination data is helping to increase Spain’s tourist appeal abroad, especially from Portugal, France and some Nordic countries.
According to data collected by Ostelea Tourism Management School, the international university center specializing in training leaders and managers in the tourism and hospitality industry, the high vaccination rates in Spain (almost 80% of the population) “also serve as a tourist attraction” and have become “a compelling reason to visit Spain.”
“Tourists will come from countries such as Portugal, France and some Nordic countries, also motivated by the relationship between quality and price,” it continued from forecasts published by the EFE agency. The most demanded destinations for this period within the national territory are the Canary Islands, Andalusia, Madrid and Barcelona.
As far as domestic tourism is concerned, uncertainty will continue to be part of Spanish travelers’ decisions throughout 2022 despite the possible improvement of the pandemic. “It is estimated that the full recovery of tourism will occur in 2023 or 2024, so now is a good time to train and be prepared for the new challenges presented by the sector,” added Ostelea Tourism Management School.
Ostelea’s data also reveals that sustainable tourism will also become very important in 2022. “Being a sustainable tourist means being concerned and caring about the protection of the tourist sites visited or respect for cultural heritage,” warned the center. Other forms of travel, such as Ed-Ventures (a combination of travel plus education) or slow travel, focused on more natural environments and away from the masses, will take a lot of prominence next year. In addition, technology is expected to play a crucial role in the world of tourism and can respond to the flexibility so desired by users as well as the opportunity to be able to book at the last minute.
