For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Spain is registering more hotel bookings in a single season than before 2019. Spain is outpacing the global average and well ahead of other southern European holiday destinations.
According to data from the World Hotel Index report, there were a whopping 107.56% more bookings of Spanish hotels in the winter of 2021-2022 than in the same period in 2019. According to this report, Spain surpasses the global average set at 83.05%.
Compared to 2019, Spain also outperforms other southern European destinations. This includes Italy (69% more bookings) and France (96% more bookings).
Figures confirm strength of Spanish hotel sector
Earlier signals already pointed to a recovery of the tourism market and these figures also confirm the strength of the hotel sector in Spain. For comparison; in the winter of 2020-2021, only 26.74% of the number of hotels were booked compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019. Although recent months have already shown positive figures, most bookings so far are in the current month place in February.
Where are most hotels booked in Spain?
An in-depth analysis of the number of bookings this winter for Spain shows that hotels in Barcelona have been booked 118.77% more than in 2019. In Seville, the percentage is 105.08%, in Malaga at 101.92%, in Valencia at 101.49%, and in Madrid at 93.44%.
Tourists from their own country no longer in the majority
For the past two years, Spanish tourists have had the upper hand in terms of bookings in Spain itself. Last summer, more foreigners dared to go to Spain, although that often involved last-minute bookings.
From the coming months, the share of international tourists will again be in the majority: in March more than 61% of the total number of tourists comes from abroad, in April it is almost 63%, in May almost 75% and in the summer months there are also more foreign tourists coming to Spain.
