The Observatory of Tourism in Barcelona updates the Destination Barcelona tourism forecast report as of 19/11/2021. This report highlights the effects of Covid-19 on the tourism sector.

Current Covid-19 restrictions in Catalonia

In Catalonia, from 19/11, the following measures affect the tourism sector:

• Restaurants and bars: 100% on both the inside and the outside of the establishments. Covid certificates must be presented at establishments where dancing is allowed.
• 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.

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. Colombia and Namibia have been the last countries to be included on the "no risk countries list", while Singapur has been removed.

Transportation offer

The global airlines capacity during 15/11 week has decreased by -28.4%, and in Spain, by -19.5% (var. 21/19), just under the 2,000,000 seats per week. 

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

During the following week, 10 cruises ships are leaving or making a stopover at Barcelona Port.

Tourist offer and professional events

By the end of October 2021, the hotel offer in Barcelona city included 286 establishments and 57.476 bed supplies.

92,0% of the cultural facilities in Barcelona city remain open.

As for the professional events, it must be highlighted that there are 113 confirmed congresses for the upcoming years, 8 in 2021. Meanwhile, about 90 applications are open until 2027.

Tourist demand

Over the last week, Google searches from Spain for Barcelona city have slightly decreased, while those for Destination Barcelona have increased. 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 and the Netherlands followed by France, United Kingdom and Germany. Destination Barcelona has ranked again, 12th in searches of accommodation and 8th in searches of flights in the ranking of international destinations worldwide.

Finally, from 07/11 to 13/11, hotel reservations in Barcelona city, which lead time's has increased to 20 days, have stood at 42.3% compared to the series peak (January 2020), which means a decrease over the previous week (45.0%). In Barcelona region, the bookings have stood at 59.1% compared to the series peak (June 2021), which also means an decrease over the previous week (60.4%), confirming the downward trend in hotel reservations that began a few weeks ago. As for the origin, international bookings have been higher in Barcelona city (63.6%), while in Barcelona region, the domestic ones have been the most numerous (61,5%).

Destination Barcelona tourism forecast (19/11/2021)