The Observatory of Tourism in Barcelona updates of the Destination Barcelona tourism forecast report as of 24/12/2020. This report highlights the effects of the second wave of Covid-19 on the tourism sector. 

Covid-19: the second wave

In Europe, countries will start to vaccinate against Covid-19 from 27/12, while they keep adopting restrictive measures.

China, US, Canada, Russia and UK have already begun the vaccination process. However, in the latter case, the outbreak of a new variant of the virus has led to a massive cancellation of flights from/to multiple countries.

In Spain, from 23/11, a negative PCR test is required for all those passengers arriving from any high-risk European country. In addition, many Autonomous Communities are implementing perimeter lockdowns.

In Catalonia, until 11/01, the following restrictions are affecting the tourism sector:

- Restaurants and bars: parcial reopening with a capacity of 30% on both the outside and the inside. Opening hours from 7.30 am to 9.30 am for breakfasts, and from 1 pm to 3.30 pm for lunch. From 7pm to 10pm only take-away dinners can be served. Delivery until 11pm.

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

- Night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am

- Catalonia territory perimeter lockdown and regions lockdown: except family visits and coexistence-group trips to second homes or fixed destinations such as hotels or rural accomodation. This exceptions are not applicable to la Cerdanya and el Ripollès regions.

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 21/12 week have been decreased by -40.5% year-on-year. In Spain, the air capacity has dropped by -60.8%, which means a gain of +1.0pp compared to last week's loss.

Tourist offer and professional events

On 17/12/2020, 112 hotels were open in Barcelona city with a total of 24.993 beds available. The Eixample, the Gothic Quarter, and Sant Martí are the districts with more available offer.

The number of open cultural facilities in Barcelona city has remained stable 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 keep temporarily closed (Camp Nou Experience, Tibidabo, and Casa Batlló).

As for the professional events, it must be highlighted that there are 105 confirmed congresses for the upcoming years.

Tourist demand

Google searches from Spain for Barcelona city have decreased and those for Destination Barcelona have slightly increased over the last week. Most of the searches for both geographical areas keep coming from Catalonia.

As for flight searches to Barcelona, noteworthy is the downward trend of several countries (UK, Germany and France). The Spanish market has experienced the least important loss (-57%). By contrast, the most affected market continues to be the United States, with a -82% drop, followed by the German (-81%). 

The hotel bookings in Barcelona city over the last week (14/12-20/12) have remained stable: while two weeks ago, 20.7% of bookings had been made, last week, they were 20.8% (as compared with the peak of January). However, over that same week, the volume of hotel reservations in Destination Barcelona has increased: while two weeks ago, 26.8% of bookings have been made, last week, they were 32.3% (as compared with the peak of January).

The booking lead times were 8 days for Barcelona city hotels (-1 day, compared to the previous week), and 5 days for Barcelona region hotels (-10 days, compared to the previous week).

Destination Barcelona tourism forecast (24/12/2020)

Next report release: 09/01/2021