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ARCHIVED - Costa Blanca breaks Easter tourism record with turnover of 500 million euros
Tourism employment in the Valencia region last month reached close to pre-pandemic levels
Tourism received a much-needed boost on the Costa Blanca during Easter Week with a record turnover of 500 million euros, exceeding 2019 figures although with 10% less profitability due to a hike in energy costs and the instability caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
During what has been hailed as the first major tourism opportunity this year, three-quarters of all hotels on the Costa Blanca were open to guests with occupancy levels described as "good" both inland and on the coast in spite of the pandemic and the war which it was feared would cost the industry 400 million euros in turnover.
And as a result of an influx of visitors, employment within the tourism sector in March on the Costa Blanca was also close to pre-pandemic levels with 180,151 emloyed in the industry.
Peaks were experienced in Benidorm, Villajoyosa, Torrevieja, Calpe, Santa Pola, Javea and Orihuela coast where all hotels recorded occupancy levels above 70%.
According to Costa Blanca Tourist Board, "the tourism figures recorded this Easter are very satisfying and in many destinations exceeded pre-pandemic levels" but whilst many companies have "invoiced higher than the year 2019, the costs have increased".
These sentiments have been echoed by the President of the Spanish Tourism Board, Juan Molas, who confirmed that this Easter, hotel occupancy across the country hovered between 80 and 90% in practically all Spanish tourist destinations, with more than two million train passengers and in excess of 57,000 flights over the holiday period.
However, he warned that costs have increased "significantly", especially due to the increase in energy and food prices, which means that "the operating account of the companies will not be the same in 2019. We have invoiced the same or higher than three years, but costs have also risen substantially".
Looking ahead, the outlook for the sector is "positive for the coming months", and a "good spring season" is forecast, with all European markets recording good booking figures, especially the British, German and French.
In fact, the tourism sector is confident that the loss of the Russian tourist market due to the war in Ukraine will be compensated by the arrival of tourists from other international destinations, and "if there are no other extraordinary negative events", this will be the year of "the definitive tourist recovery, especially in the domestic sector".
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