Town enjoys Spain’s staycations

HOMEGROWN holidays on the Costa Blanca helped ‘ cushion’ the economic effect of the Covid19 pandemic in Benissa this summer as the number of Spanish visitors soared.

The town hall used occupancy rates, demand for guided trips and visits to tourism offices to gauge the impact of the allimportant summer season in a year affected by health worries.

And councillor for tourism Jorge Ivars said new figures were ‘ relatively positive’ when set against the ‘ global perspective’ of coronavirus and its effect on travel and tourism.

Visitor inquires at tourism offices across Benissa were slightly down overall on 2019 but in July and August – which bookends the traditional Spanish holiday – ‘ considerably exceeded’ last year’s statistics.

National tourism was estimated to stand at 83%, while international holidaymakers made up just 17%. Almost 60% of Spanish visitors came from the Valencia region, three times the level of 12 months ago, and people also notably arrived from Madrid.

It was said the trend ‘ saved’ the occupancy rates of tourist accommodation, while there was a ‘ significant drop in the numbers of French visitors to the area, the largest group of international holidaymakers ahead of British, Belgian, Dutch and German visitors.

Sr Ivars said the ability for Benissa to offer activities in ‘ wideopen spaces’ had been an attraction and he praised the owners of holiday accommodation for their ability to adapt to meet new challenges.

The typical profile of visitors arriving was couples with and without children aged between 30 and 50, together with single people aged between 20 and 35yearsold. Foreign visitors were typically couples aged over 55 and groups of younger people aged from 18 to 25.

The councillor said the statistics spread ‘ moderate optimism’ for the sector:

“The tourism model of our municipality has been the buffer against a catastrophic summer in the whole of the region. We are happy and we will continue to firmly back a sustainable and quality product.”