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Date Published: 31/01/2022
ARCHIVED - Spanish summer looks bright as bookings soar by 320 per cent
At the start of 2022, Spain and Turkey are the top holiday destinations in Europe
The Fitur international fair held last week has been a resounding success and prompted the world tourism sector to look toward summer 2022 with cautious optimism. Having been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic during the last two high seasons, Spain certainly looks set to make a comeback this year, as arrivals at the beginning of the year have soared by 320%, well above the 200% increase experienced in the rest of Europe.
According to the CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Julia Simpson, Spain and Turkey are in the lead so far this year as favourite destinations. However, while all the indicators point to a bumper summer season for Spain, Ms Simpson has warned that ongoing travel restrictions could hamper tourism for yet another year.
“Those who keep their borders open with minimal restrictions to protect their citizens will be the winners,” she said, “while those who choose to close their borders and react as if this Omicron variant is the same as the previous ones will unfortunately be the losers.”
Both the WTTC and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) are staunch in their belief that travel restrictions are “completely ineffective” against the pandemic and serve only to harm livelihoods and impede the recovery of the sector.
Furthermore, in Spain where tourism income accounts for 14% of the GDP, demand in the sector seriously outweighs supply, and there is a current shortage of 93,000 workers. This means that one in eleven jobs in the tourism industry remain unfilled. The labour market for 2022 is expected to remain tight, with an average shortage of 16,000 workers predicted.
If this situation persists, the WTTC is concerned that “Spain’s economic recovery could be at risk.”
See also: How to get a Covid passport and How to book an appointment for a vaccination or booster jab in Spain
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