• The Covid-19 effects cause a substantial change in the profile and the expense of tourists in Destination Barcelona in 2020.
• The proportion of domestic tourists compared to international ones increases, especially in Barcelona region, where Spanish tourists have outnumbered foreigners.
• Most of the tourists have visited the Destination as a couple (42.9%) or alone (33.6%) and for leisure or vacation reasons (55.7%). Nevertheless, the proportion of tourists who have visited friends and family has increased and professional tourism has decreased.
• The plane is still the favourite means of transport to reach Destination Barcelona (38.9%), although in a much lower proportion than in previous years, in favor of the increase of the private vehicle (37.4%) and the train (18.3%).
• The average repeatability of tourists increases: in Barcelona city, tourists have been 14.3 times, while in Barcelona region, 18.0. However, the average stay has decreased by -0.4 nights compared (2020 on 2018-2019).
• During their stay, tourists usually go on foot (56.5%) and take quiet walks (81.7%). Outdoor activities have grown + 7.0pp.
• The tourist average expense has dropped in all the analyzed categories in Destination Barcelona, ​​especially in the arrival transport (-57.6%).

The Observatory of Tourism in Barcelona: city and region has released the second capsule of the 2020 Barcelona Tourism Activity Report, which provides data about the three geographical levels that the OTB covers: Barcelona city, Barcelona region, and Destination Barcelona. This capsule contains two chapters with data on the profile and expense of tourists.

The worldwide effects of Covid-19 and, especially, those in the tourism sector have marked 2020. Although the first two months of the year developed normally, in 2020 tourists showed new needs and travel restrictions were imposed, after the months of total lockdown first and partial ones later. Therefore, both the profile and the expenditure of tourists in Destination Barcelona during 2020 have experienced important changes if compared to the previous years.

6 out of 10 tourists have been men and the average age has been 39 years, although in Barcelona city it has been slightly lower (34.4 years). In 2020, the age of tourists has decreased compared to 2018-2019 in all geographical areas (-2.7 years in Barcelona city, -0.7 years in Barcelona region, and -0.3 years in the Destination Barcelona).

Most of the tourists in Destination Barcelona have professional secondary education or university studies (74.4%) and are self-employed (61.2%).

As for the country of residence, the increase of domestic tourism stands out in all geographical areas, but especially in Barcelona region (65.2%), where more Spanish than international tourists have been registered. In Barcelona city, almost 7 out of 10 tourists were foreigners, while in previous years, they were around 8 out of 10. French tourists (+1.4pp), have also increased their proportion in Destination Barcelona, while the British (-2.3pp), the Italians (-0.7pp), the Americans (-5.2pp), the Germans (-1.6pp), and the Russians (-0.8pp) have reduced it.

55.7% have visited Destination Barcelona for holidays and leisure reasons, 20.8% for professional reasons, and 23.5% for personal or other reasons. This last purpose has grown the most during 2020 (+12.8pp), as opposed to the holidays and leisure reasons (-12.1pp). It should also be noted that, in Barcelona city, the proportion of visitors coming for professional reasons has experienced a significant reduction (-7.9pp), while in Barcelona region, it has increased (+ 4.0pp).

The plane has continued to be the most used means of transport to get to Destination Barcelona (38.9%), although it has experienced a decline of -20pp. On the contrary, the use of the private vehicle (37.4%) has doubled its proportion and has been the second arrival means of transport. The train has also gained importance during 2020 (+ 9.8pp): almost 2 out of 10 tourists have chosen it. The most used method to buy both transport and the accommodation has been directly with the transport company or the establishment (70.9% and 52.7%, respectively), mainly online.

The number of times that the tourists have been at the destination has grown significantly in all geographical areas: in Barcelona city, the repeatability average has stood at 14.3 times, which is an almost threefold increase when compared to 2018-2019, while in Barcelona region, 18.0 times (x1.5).

Those who travel as a couple keep being the majority (42.9%), followed by those who travel alone (33.6%), which have increased by +8.1pp. On the other hand, although the length of stay has remained virtually stable in Barcelona city (5.1 nights), in Barcelona region (4.4 nights) has been reduced by 1 night. Thus, in the whole of Destination Barcelona (4.7 nights) a remarkable reduction has also been experienced (-0.4 nights).

During their stay, the tourists tend to use non-polluting internal transports. Actually, “walking” has been the most common way to go from one place to another (56.5%). The use of the car (35.1%) has ranked the second in Barcelona region, while in Barcelona city, it has been the metro (17.8%).

Taking quiet strolls and relaxation (80.8%), tasting the gastronomy / going to restaurants (75.9%), and going to the beach (46.6%) have been the most carried out activities in Destination Barcelona. Noteworthy is the drop in the percentage of tourists who went out at night (-5.7pp) or did business activities (-3.3pp), while those who have visited friends or family has increased by +13.0pp. In addition, the number of excursions from the municipality where they stay has slightly fallen: only 18.2% of tourists in Destination Barcelona have done at least one excursion (-2.5pp). This percentage is still higher in Barcelona region (26.2%) than in Barcelona city (9.7%).

The expense on the transport to reach Destination Barcelona has sharply diminished, standing at €133.2 (-57.6%). Spending on accommodation (-32.9%), spending during the stay (-24.6%), and the cost of tourist packages (-25.2%) have also been reduced, although more moderately.

Finally, the purchase of food and drink keeps being the item in which most money is invested in Destination Barcelona (52.9% of the total expenditure during the stay per person per night), followed by clothes, shoes, souvenirs, and personal items shopping (19.4%). Those who have spent the most during their stay are the international tourists, who on average have spent €70.3 per person per night, €17.6 above the average.

More information: Report on Tourist Activity in Barcelona 2020