The Observatory of Tourism in Barcelona updates the Destination Barcelona tourism forecast report as of 17/12/2021. This report highlights the effects of Covid-19 on the tourism sector.

Current Covid-19 restrictions in Catalonia

In Catalonia, from 10/12, the following measures affect the tourism sector:

• Restaurants and bars: 100% on both the inside and the outside of the establishments. Covid certificates is required.
• Commerce: 100% of capacity on both small businesses and shopping centers.
• Professional events: allowed at 100% of their capacity.
• Culture: 100% of capacity in museums, exhibition centers, cinemas and concert halls.
• Music festivals, musical activities and​ nightlife: 100% of capacity on the outside areas and 80% on the inside with Covid certificate. Dancing with face mask is allowed. 
• Sports: public is allowed at 100% of capacity. In sports activities with a capacity of more than 10,000 people, independent sectors must be established.
• Amusement parks: 100% of capacity.

In any case, organizational measures to control agglomerations must be established.

Source markets

The EU Digital COVID certificate is operational. In Spain, the entrance of passengers from EU countries (or zones) with risk is allowed if one of the following is presented:

1. Vaccination certificate

2. Diagnosis certificate

3. Recovery certificate

The rest of EU passengers are accepted without any certificate. However, due to the worsening situation of Covid-19 in Europe, some countries are introducing new restrictive measures that could hinder or affect their travel plans.

On the other hand, passengers traveling from intercontinental countries considered as "no risk countries" are also accepted as long as they present the vaccination certificate.

Passengers from countries considered as Covid-19 high risk countries must present, regardless of their vaccination status, a negative diagnostic test to enter Spain. The countries included in this list are: Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Transportation offer

The global airlines capacity during 13/12 week has decreased by -26.2%, and in Spain, by -20.6% (var. 21/19). However, this means almost 2,100,000 weekly seats. 

The forecasts show an increase in the number of seats operated worldwide through the next months, although it must be reminded that airlines continue to readjust their flight schedules week after week.

During the following week, 4 cruises ships are leaving or making a stopover at Barcelona Port. In 2022 about 50 shipping agents will operate in the city, bringing more than 800 cruiseships.

Tourist offer and professional events

The hotel accommodation has been increased: by the end of November 2021, 303 hotels and 58.365 bed supplies were open. As for the culture offer, 92,0% of the 88 monitored cultural facilities in Barcelona city were working.

The next professional events in Destination Barcelona will take place in January. In 2022, 90 events are confirmed, and about 90 applications are open until 2027.

Tourist demand

Over the last week, Google searches from Spain for Barcelona city have increased, while in Destination Barcelona they have decreased. Most of the searches for both geographical areas keep coming from Catalonia.

The Barcelona flights and accommodation searches achieve their best positioning in Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Germany, in this order. Destination Barcelona has ranked 11th in searches of accommodation and 12th in searches of flights in the ranking of international destinations worldwide.

Finally, from 05/12 to 11/12, hotel reservations in Barcelona city, which lead time's has decreased to 13 days, have stood at 28.9% compared to the series peak (January 2020), below the previous week (38.6%). In Barcelona region, the bookings have stood at 45.1 compared to the series peak (June 2021), which also means a decrease over the previous week (58.3%). Its lead time has stood at 12 days. As for the origin, international bookings have been higher in Barcelona city (54.2%), while in Barcelona region, the domestic ones have been the most numerous (65.6%).

Destination Barcelona tourism forecast (17/12/2021)