The Observatory of Tourism in Barcelona updates the Destination Barcelona tourism forecast report as of 26/02/2021. This report highlights the effects of Covid-19 on the tourism sector. 

Covid-19 restrictive measures

Covid-19 preventive measures continue despite the increasing number of worldwide vaccinations.

Spain has extended strict entry measures until the 16/03 of March to all passengers flying from Brazil, South Africa and United Kingdom, due to new variants of the virus. Moreover, since the 22/02 all passengers travelling from Brazil or South Africa have to quarantine upon their arrival.

In Catalonia, from the 01/03 to the 07/03, the following measures will affect the tourism sector:

- Restaurants and bars: 30% of capacity on both the outside and the inside of the establishments. 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.

- Professional events: congresses, corporate meetings, and incentives and workshops have been canceled

- Culture: 50% of capacity in cinemas, concert halls, museums and exhibition centers.

- Schools: bubble groups are allowed to go on an excursion and to stay overnight.

- 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.

As for restrictions for passengers traveling from Spain, no changes have been registered during the last week.

The global airlines capacity during 22/02 week has been decreased by -38.9% year-on-year, while in Spain, by -75.2%. It is expected that, from late 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 24/02/2021, 111 hotels with 26,771 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.

This week, the AOK Pass, a new app that could increase the health security in professional, cultural, and sportive events has been released in Girona.

The EU is discussing the possibility of introducing a vaccination certificate before the summer season that would ease travel measures for those who have been vaccinated or immunized.

Tourist demand

Over the last week, Google searches from Spain for Barcelona city have slightly decreased, while in Destination Barcelona they have increased. 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 (14/02-20/02) have diminished: while two weeks ago, 33.4% of bookings had been made, last week, they were 26.0% (as compared with the peak of January 2020). Over the same week, the volume of hotel reservations in Destination Barcelona has been lower too: while two weeks ago, 47.0% of bookings have been made, last week, they were 39.0% (as compared with the peak of January 2020).

Destination Barcelona tourism forecast (26/02/2021)