Tourism anticipates a 'historic' Easter week, with record spending by international visitors 

Catalonia's tourism is preparing for what experts are calling a "historic" Easter Week, with international visitors expected to spend a record-breaking amount.  

Spain's tourism minister Jordi Hereu confirmed this outlook this week, emphasizing the sector's remarkable "strength" and "resilience" despite the current global uncertainties.  

According to the official tourism institute of Spain, Turespaña’s projections, the tourism sector in the country will see an increase of 13% in spending compared to last year, reaching a staggering €20 billion. 

The number of visitors expected to arrive in Spain between March and April is over 15 million, which represents a 9% increase from 2024. Additionally, the number of seats on scheduled international flights will rise by nearly 10%. 

Girona's hotels 

This Easter holiday season, hotels and restaurants across Spain are benefitting from these optimistic projections. In Girona, in northeastern Catalonia, the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of the Girona Region expects hotel and restaurant occupancy rates to range between 85% and 90% during the holiday period from April 18 to 21.  

The federation reports that 90% of hotels are already open, offering approximately 77,000 of the 85,000 available places. The region’s coastal areas, particularly Costa Brava, will also see a substantial occupancy growth, especially during the weekend from Friday to Monday, with some of the establishments reaching full capacity. 

Similarly, Barcelona’s El Prat Airport is anticipating a significant rise in activity this Easter, with around 10,900 flights scheduled between April 10 and 21. This marks an 11% increase compared to the same period last year.  

Friday, April 11, is expected to be the busiest day, with over 1000 flights scheduled, followed by key travel days such as Easter Monday and Good Friday. 

International or domestic visitors? 

Along with the increase in international visitors, most tourists are expected to come from Catalonia. Data from Girona shows that the majority will be from the province of Barcelona, especially middle-aged families. Visitors from France will also make up a large part of the tourist group. 

Tourism activity is expected to be high, and Turespaña reports that Spain’s tourism spending in 2024 will break previous records.  

Inland Catalonia and Pyrenees 

Hotels and tourist accommodations in central Catalonia and the Pyrenees are also forecasting a successful Easter period. Tourist accommodations in the Pyrenees are expected to reach a 90% occupancy rate during the five main holiday days, while rural tourism could hit 80%. In Lleida mainland, occupancy is predicted to range between 60% and 70%. 

The end of the ski season, alongside adventure sports like rafting, is driving visitor numbers. Thanks to recent snowfall and rain, ski resorts such as Baqueira Beret, Boí Taüll, and Port Ainé are operating in excellent conditions. Some have snow depths of up to 270 centimeters and plan to stay open until Easter Monday. 

Adventure sports operators in the Pallars Sobirà county are also anticipating their best Easter week in five years, with water sports facilities running at nearly full capacity. The improvement in reservoir levels has further boosted aquatic activities in areas like Canelles and Sant Ponç. 

The local tourism board highlights a continued focus on attracting family and small-group tourism, while also investing in efforts increase international reach. Cultural activities such as the Passió de Cervera (known as the Passion Play or Easter Pageant) and guided tours through the Romanesque churches of the Vall de Boí complement the natural offerings, ensuring the region is a well-rounded destination this season. 

Drop in interest in travel to the US 

Tourism is not immune to global geopolitical shifts, which this year include US President Donald Trump’s new tariff plan. People usually opt for long-haul destinations like Miami or New York to make the most of the few days off. This year, however, agencies are noting a drop in bookings to the US.  

For example, Camaleon Travel, which has agencies in southern seaside towns Vilanova i la Geltrú and Calafell, reports a 30% drop in bookings to US destinations for this period and the upcoming summer. 

The owner of these agencies, Miquel Rodríguez, hopes this dip will ease in the coming weeks once the trade war stabilizes. Although there haven’t been any cancellations, he regrets that the tariff announcements are deterring new bookings. 

"Europeans can enter the US now just as they could a few months ago, with the same online visa process used for the past ten years," says Rodríguez, emphasizing that tourists "should not encounter any problems with hotels or transport" and insists that "people can keep traveling with peace of mind."