Tourism sector expects good summer season 

Catalonia is expecting a record summer for tourism with hotels and tourist apartments close to full occupancy. 

In June, hotels around Catalonia registered 10.8 million travelers, the maximum in the historical series, mostly driven by Spanish tourists. 

The vice-president of the tourism sector of Pimec, Daniel Brasé, forecasts the entire summer season to be "very good" for tourism. 

The uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East is creating the expectation of last-minute bookings in Catalonia. 

"People have decided to travel much less in advance, perhaps motivated by the uncertainty with the war," says Roger Grau, the director of the NH Collection Calderón hotel. 

Brasé highlights the conflict in the Middle East is increasing fuel prices and many people are looking for safe and cheap travel destinations, leading them to locations closer to home. 

 
Camping is another sector that expects a positive tourism season, with campsites in the Girona region averaging 85% capacity. 

The campsites expect full occupancy during the first weeks of August. 

Hotels in Barcelona during August are expected to be around 90% occupancy, in line with last year. 

In Costa Brava, the Berguedà Agrotourism Association is expecting an August with 80% occupancy, following June and July with an occupancy rate of 60%. 

Impact of heat 

The heat is also changing tourist demand. 

The Osona Association of Hotel and Tourism Entrepreneurs warns that the summer heat impacts reservations of various areas. 

As the intense heat continues, visitors prefer beach destinations or cooler places. 

The owner of Hostal Estrella de Rupit, Lluís Manel Dorca, has seen the negative effects of the heat waves as well, though is confident August will have good occupancy. 

The president of the Maresme-Costa Hospitality Association of Barcelona, Isabel Mallol, expects that accommodation municipalities in Baix Llobregat, such as Castelldefels, Gavà or Viladecans, will be fully booked this August. 

Mallol saw that some customers are moving their reservations outside of the summer, saying "many people say that they prefer not to travel with the heat."

Eclipse impact 

In Lleida, the tourism forecast for August is increased by the August 12 eclipse. 

According to the Tourism Board of the Lleida Provincial Council, hotels and campsites expect occupancy rates between 80%-90% until the end of August, with full occupancy expected around the weekend of August 15. 

Tarragona is also expecting maximum occupancy during the week of August 10, coinciding with the eclipse.

The estimate is that approximately 50% of the customers are from Spain and the remaining are international.