Jorge AguilarSEGUIRMadrid Updated: Save Send news by mail electrónicoTu name *
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Despite the end of the alarm condition and the opening of borders with the arrival of the so-called “new normal”, it is not expected that this will be a summer positive for tourism . A proof of this is that the hotels have started their re-opening with a battle of prices down to try to capture the customer and thus save part of the summer season.
The sector hopes for a summer of terror in terms of figures is concerned, although the forecasts have been improved with respect to a month ago, when the opening of borders and an end to the state of alarm was uncertain. During the last summer the number of travelers who stayed in a hotel between the months of July and September amounted to 36 million, according to the INE. Of these, a little over 19 million were living abroad.
From the employers ‘association Cepyme, the secretary general Ramón Estalella, says that” there is no volume of reserves of foreign nationals in the summer , ” and that this is expected to be “the worst summer of the last twenty years.” The expectations of the hoteliers is that this year just staying some four million foreign tourists in Spanish hotels. Forecasts also create the own minister of Tourism, Reyes Maroto, who does not expect a mass arrival as of these past few years.
Many hotels will not open
The coming of international tourists is very important for the hotel companies, as the average stay of these is superior to the national tourist. Against this background Estalella alert “many establishments will not open” .
The bad forecasts tourist have finished forcing the leading hotel chains of our country to lower prices. So, Barceló starting today the reopening of part of its hotels in Spain. The hotel is committed to destinations of Andalusia, where it has 19 stores, because he believes that once restored mobility will be the favorite destination of the tourists. That’s why, in addition, has lowered up to 35% on their prices. On the other hand, last week reopened its hotel Barceló Valencia to stay in it for several basketball teams to compete in the final phase of the CBA, which takes place in the capital of the Turia.
Meliá has also been launched to lower prices in the back to normal. The hotel balear will open about 60 stores in July and this discounts of up to 30% with cancellation free of charge to those clients who book until the 12 of July for stays until the end of 2021. In addition, the group reports that although the goal is to be able to open these hotels according to the schedule, in the event that it is finally not possible, Meliá is committed to offering their customers that have already reserved “for an option of equal or better features on any of their other establishments in the destination.”
NH plans to open around 70 establishments in the summer months. Their sales are up 25%, with children under 12 years are free of charge and free cancellation for bookings made until 31st August and stays until 4 October of this year. Iberostar has also initiated the reopening of their establishments in this end of June with price decreases of up to 15% and children free for stays between June and October of 2021.
These rebates price does not marry with the intent of the tourism to attract a customer to a higher spending and higher quality, so as to avoid episodes of vandalism that have occurred in recent years. The president of AC Hotels by Marriot, Antonio Catalan, said at the business summit organized by the CEOE that “lowering prices is a direct way of ruin”.
Neither bonds nor ERTE
however, the inaction of the Government to reactivate the national demand before the poor coming international causes that the entrepreneurs are forced to make sales. In addition, to this we add that, according to the latest survey of the CIS, only 27% of the Spanish plans to go on holiday this summer .
One of the major requests of the sector is that the Government put on the table measures to boost domestic demand, either with tax incentives or bonuses as that has put Italy . However, in the plan presented by Pedro Sanchez there is no sign of these measures. Nor, for the moment, an extension of the ERTE, as crucial for the hotels to preserve jobs in the coming months.
Not only the hotels have started pulling the prices back to the activity.
The airline also launched promotions to attract passengers in the summer period . The first that it has lowered its pricing has been Ryanair, with discounts of over 50% if we compare the same date in other years, and it is expected that more airlines will join.
