BENIDORM. Benidorm begins to be what it was. After two long years of the pandemic and its consequences, the hotels are operating at full capacity again, according to estimates from the employers of the sector in the Valencian Community, Hosbec. The summers of 2020 and 2021 are behind us but this holiday period maintains a common denominator: the pull of the national market that pushes to have good data. In a new study for the month of July, they calculate that 48.4% of their associates’ clients were Spanish, above the second market par excellence, the British (32.9%).
The second fortnight of July left the destination with an average hotel occupancy of 87.5%, that is, two percentage points less than in 2019, the last year before the health crisis, which, on the other hand, was one of the years fastest growing tourism. It is therefore the closest average to the previous ‘normality’ in the last two and a half years, as can be seen in the graph that accompanies the news. Regarding the entire month, the city scores 86.3%, which means 2.8 points less than in the same period of 2019.
The Spanish business community has a lot to thank national tourists, who have been the ones who have continued to spend their summers in the city after the health crisis and now, prices. They have had it easier, at least when it comes to mobility. A stumbling block that has been overcome over time for countries like the United Kingdom, which is already in figures that are reminiscent of its behavior prior to the pandemic and Brexit.
Thus, little by little the British gain important levels in hotel occupancy. Without a doubt, these are the two markets on which the capital of the Costa Blanca depends. They are followed very far by the Portuguese and the Belgian, with 5.5% and 2.3% respectively, according to the data provided by those associated with Hosbec. Finally there are the Dutch, French, Romanian and Irish, which range between 2 and 1%.
The prospects remain positive for entrepreneurs. The forecasts suggest that the data for 2019 will be matched, this time. The employer’s association currently calculates 85% for the first half of August, but they believe that it can be exceeded with last-minute reservations “since it is one of the vacation months par excellence”. In this way, they look favorably on the figure of 85.8% that they estimated at that time, and that finally exceeded the 90% average.
The president of Hosbec, Tony Mayor, was satisfied with the start of the tourist season, mentioning that the forecast for August shows that the trend of reaching pre-pandemic levels will be consolidated. Similarly, he recognized the work and effort of businessmen to achieve it. At the same time, he highlighted that although Benidorm has two strong markets, there is a 20% that is distributed in different countries such as those mentioned above.
The negative aspect is in the absence of the Algerians due to the diplomatic crisis between Spain and Algeria. Thus, they explain that although the hotel client from this country does not have a significant market share (more or less 1% in 2019), it had a high spending and consumption capacity and the sector hopes to recover it as soon as possible.
White shore
With regard to the data for the Costa Blanca, not including Benidorm, in the second half of July it reached 88% occupancy. This is 7.2 percentage points more than in the first fortnight. But in addition, it exceeds the 86.3% registered in 2019. However, the total for the month remains at 83.8% on average.
–
