The tourism sector represents some 11% of Catalonia’s GDP.  However, since the crisis began, hotels and restaurants in this part of Spain have seen their income reduced due to the drop in tourists numbers.  The situation has finally changed this year and figures are starting to move in a positive direction as far as hotel owners are concerned.

There were 65,324 hotel beds available in Barcelona in April 2010, which is 17% more than last year in the same month, this is due to the increase in the number of rooms in four star establishments . Even so, the occupancy rate increased, thanks to the number of tourists who visited the Barcelona which was 14 % higher.

This increase started at the end of last year and has been steady since then.  5% more tourists arrived at Barcelona in May.  According to Jordi Clos, Chairman of the Barcelona Hotels Association: ” the first five months of this year have been good compared to the past two years. This is the first time we can see better figures, and most importantly, these figures have remained positive for a considerable time”.

The director of Barcelona airport, Fernando Echegaray, stated that bookings for landing slots for this summer are expected to grow by 4% with an increase of 9% in the number of passengers. The airport has received 1.4% more tourists one year after opening a new Terminal.

The average daily rate of a hotel in Catalonia is 77 €, 10€ more than the overall average of hotels in Spain, although prices in Catalonia still fell in April of this year. Tourists are also spending more while on holidays in Spain and the use of credit cards has increased by 17%.  The fall in the value of the Euro in recent months against Sterling will help the hotel sector in Spain recoup some of the spending of British visitors during this year.