The Observatory of Tourism in Barcelona updates the Destination Barcelona tourism forecast report as of 19/02/2021. This report highlights the effects of Covid-19 on the tourism sector. 

Covid-19 restrictive measures

Despite the increasing number of worldwide vaccinated people, Covid-19 keeps causing restrictive measures.

Spain extended the entry measures to all those passengers flying from Brazil, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, due to new variants of the virus, until the 02/03. Moreover, since the 22/02 all passengers travelling from Brazil or South Africa will have to quarantine upon their arrival.

In Catalonia, until the 28/01, 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: open at 50% of their capacity

- Night curfew: from 10 pm to 6 am

- Region perimeter lockdown: it is not allowed to leave the region of residence

Source markets

European internal borders keep open but 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.

It is recalled that, since the 01/02, France is requiring a negative PCR test to travelers on their arrival, even those coming overland.

The global airlines capacity during 15/02 week has been decreased by -43.9% year-on-year, while in Spain, by -79.3%. It is expected that, from March, there will be a certain recovery in frequencies, although companies continue to readjust their offer from week to week..

Tourist offer and professional events

On 17/02/2021, 110 hotels with 26,467 beds were available in Barcelona city. The Eixample, the Gothic Quarter, and Sant Martí are the districts with more available offer.

74.7% of the cultural facilities in Barcelona city are open to the public. However, 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 101 confirmed congresses for the upcoming years.

Tourist demand

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

Flight searches to Barcelona from Germany, UK, USA, Spain and France have kept decreasing. The UK (-90%) has registered the highest YoY loss. 

The hotel bookings in Barcelona city over the last week (08/02-13/02) have increased: while two weeks ago, 25.2% of bookings had been made, last week, they were 33.1% (as compared with the peak of January 2020). Over the same week, the volume of hotel reservations in Destination Barcelona has been higher too: while two weeks ago, 37.1% of bookings have been made, last week, they were 47.6% (as compared with the peak of January 2020).

Destination Barcelona tourism forecast (19/02/2021)