The Observatory of Tourism in Barcelona weekly updates of the Destination Barcelona tourism forecast report as of 20/11/2020. This report highlights the effects of the second wave of Covid-19 on the tourism sector. 

Covid-19: the second wave

In Europe, several countries keep adopting internal restrictive measures to stop the increase of infection, while in Spain, it has been announced that, from 23/11, a negative PCR test will be required for all those passengers arriving from any high-risk European country. In addition, many Autonomous Communities, including Catalonia, are implementing perimeter lockdowns. In Catalonia, a plan for the progressive reopening of activities has been designed. It will be applied from 23/11 in 14-day phases. During the first phase, the following restrictions will affect the tourism sector:

- Restaurants and bars: parcial reopening with a capacity of 30% on the inside. Opening hours from 6am to 6pm. From 6pm until 9.30pm only dinners will be served. Take-away until 10pm and delivery until 11pm.

- Congresses, corporate meetings, and incentives and workshops have been canceled

- Night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am

- Municipalities lockdown: from Friday at 6 am until Monday at 6 am

Source markets

As for the internal European mobility, despite the borders are open, almost all EU countries maintain restrictive measures. Some of them have recommended not to visit Catalonia and/or Spain, others have imposed mandatory quarantines, PCR tests, or other measures to passengers coming from Spain.

Scheduled global flights during 16/11 week have been decreased by -46.3% year-on-year. In Spain, the air capacity has dropped by -71.7%, which means a loss of -2.6pp compared to last week's loss.

Tourist offer and professional events

The number of open cultural facilities in Barcelona city has increased during the last week: 88 cultural facilities are being monitored and 68.2% are open to the public. Some of the most visited sightseeing places in Barcelona city have been temporarily closed (Camp Nou Experience, Tibidabo, and Casa Batlló).

Regarding the hotel offer, on 18/11/2020, 121 hotels were open in Barcelona city with a total of 26,570 beds available. The Eixample, the Gothic Quarter, and Sant Martí are the districts with more available offer.

Finally, as for the professional events, it must be highlighted that there are 113 confirmed congresses for the upcoming years.

Tourist demand

The Google searches from Spain for Barcelona city has remained stable and those for Destination Barcelona have slightly grown over the last week. Most of the searches for both geographical areas keep coming from Catalonia.

As for flight searches to Barcelona, all the analyzed markets have registered losses that have exceeded -65% year-on-year. The Spanish market has experienced the least important loss (-69%). By contrast, the most affected market continues to be the United States, with a -86% drop. 

The hotel bookings in Barcelona city over the last week (09/11-16/11) have lightly increased: while two weeks ago, 14.1% of bookings had been made, last week, they were 17.3% (as compared with the peak of January). However, over that same week, the volume of hotel reservations in Destination Barcelona has kept downsizing: while two weeks ago, 14.9% of bookings have been made, last week, they were 16.5% (as compared with the peak of January).

Destination Barcelona tourism forecast (20/11/2020)