Demand for accommodation in Destination Barcelona rises at the beginning of the summer season

In June 2023, tourism activity in Destination kept growing due to the natural seasonality of tourism, so that the main indicators of accommodation and tourism demand were above the previous month. However, it is worth noting a slight decline compared to the activity recorded in the same period of 2019.

Below are the key indicators of June:

• The number of open bed places in tourist accommodation grew on the previous month, due to the tourism seasonality that caused the reopening of some hotel establishments and campsites. Thus, an average of over 175,000 beds were available, which is +0.2% ahead of the same period in 2019.
• Overnight stays increased month-on-month in the Destination as a whole, also because of tourism seasonality, although -5.5% below June 2019. This decline in the recovery of pre-academic activity was milder in Barcelona city (-2.1%) than in Barcelona region (-10.4%). On a month-on-month basis, it should be noted that in Barcelona city there was a reduction in stays in hotel establishments, which also led to a reduction in overnight stays. However, this was partially counterbalanced by an increase in stays and overnights in Homes for tourist use. In Barcelona region, all types of establishments increased to a lesser or greater extent compared to the previous month, especially campsites, which recorded a +45.6%-increse in overnight stays compared to May.
• The average length of stay in Barcelona city (2.9 nights) kept higher than before the pandemic (+0.2 nights Var. Jun23/Jun19). Despite growing on the previous month, the length of stay in Barcelona region (2.8 nights) was still slightly below 2019 (-0.3 nights).
• At Barcelona Airport, 4.5 million passengers were recorded (-0.3% MoM). Thus, the recovery in air traffic kept over 95% compared to the same period in 2019. Thus, the recovery of air traffic experienced a slight decline compared to pre-pandemic figures, with a -12.6%-change compared to the same period in 2019.
• In Barcelona Port, cruise passengers decreased by 12.7% MoM, yet they overcame once again those of the same period in 2019 (+5.6%). On the other hand, ferry passengers (+23.9% month-on-month) also were over those registered in June 2019 (+13,5%).
• ICUB cultural facilities received less visitors than in the previous month (-17,7%). However, almost 3 out of 4 visitors in June were international.
• Domestic tourists decreased their share of hotel establishments in the city of Barcelona (17.4% share and -1.3pp month-on-month), taking the first place in the ranking. United States (17.2% share) was, once again, the leading international market, followed by the United Kingdom (9.1%) and France (6.0%). In Barcelona region, 4 out of 10 tourists were Spanish, which also means a reduction of domestic tourists compared to May.
• The average expense during the stay in the destination was €69.8, 3€ below the previous month, but similar to the same period in 2019. Although spending in Barcelona city continued to be higher than in Barcelona region (87.3€ vs. 44.4€), it decreased month-on-month (-10.6%), while spending in the region remained fairly stable. Food and beverages continued to be the main item of expenditure, yet the purchase of clothing, footwear, souvenirs and personal effects increased significantly (+3.9pp).
• Registered unemployment in tourism activity remained below pre-pandemic levels (-14.2%) and indefinite hiring (53.2%) once again exceeded temporary hiring in Destination Barcelona as a whole.

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With the analysis of the different thematic areas, which offer a transversal vision of the sector, the Observatory of Tourism in Barcelona updates the monitoring of the tourism activity. This analysis complements the monthly report on the Profile and Habits of Tourists in Barcelona Destination. All data is presented in three geographical areas: Barcelona city, Barcelona region, and Destination Barcelona.