The Observatory of Tourism in Barcelona updates the Destination Barcelona tourism forecast report as of 08/01/2021. This report highlights the effects of Covid-19 on the tourism sector. 

Covid-19 restrictive measures

In Europe, countries are already vaccinating against Covid-19, while they keep adopting restrictive measures.

In UK, the outbreak of a new variant of the virus has led to a new strict lockdown that could long until March.

In Spain, 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 16/01, 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

- Museums and exhibitions are open at 50% of their capacity

- Night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am

- Municipalities perimeter lockdown: it is not allowed to leave the municipality of residence

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 04/01 week have been decreased by -43.5% year-on-year. In Spain, the air capacity has dropped by -61.8%.

Tourist offer and professional events

By the end of 2020, 112 hotels with 24.993 beds were available in Barcelona city. 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 both, Barcelona city and Destination Barcelona, have slightly increased over the last week. Most of the searches for both geographical areas keep coming from Catalonia.

The flight searches to Barcelona from Germany, Spain, US and France have remained stable over the last weeks. However, a slight downward trend in the interest from the UK has been observed. The Spanish market has experienced the least important loss (-68%). By contrast, the most affected market continues to be the United States, with a -88% drop.

The hotel bookings in Barcelona city over the last week (28/12-03/01) have decreases: while two weeks ago, 20.0% of bookings had been made, last week, they were 18.3% (as compared with the peak of January). However, over that same week, the volume of hotel reservations in Destination Barcelona has grown: while two weeks ago, 34.4% of bookings have been made, last week, they were 36.5% (as compared with the peak of January).

The booking lead times were 6 days for Barcelona city hotels (+2 days compared to the previous week), and 2 days for Barcelona region hotels (= compared to last week).

Destination Barcelona tourism forecast (08/01/2021)