Although the forecast for this December long weekend is already winter, the weather seems to remember tourists, as the State Meteorological Agency in the Valencian Community predicts that temperatures will continue to rise, with slightly cloudy skies, until reaching peaks of 23 degrees on Sunday in Valencia. We will surely see some short sleeves in the Mauve-pink.
A climate conducive to walking and enjoying the tourist offer and which also coincides with the start of the Christmas commercial campaign, in which local businesses stake a good part of the annual turnover and in which this year they hope to increase sales among 7 and 10%. These are the forecasts of Confecomerç CV, which is starting the campaign with “good expectations” and is already distributing gift wrap and shopping bags with the printed slogan “Christmas’s little helper” to its customers.
All in a Christmas atmosphere, with the city dressed in lights and dotted with several trees in its historic center – the last, the 11-meter-high natural fir in the Plaza de la Reina -, which awaits tourists and visitors with the open arms. In fact, the forecasts for the hotel sector are good in general, both for the Valencian Community as a whole and for the Valencian capital.
The reservation systems of the hotels in the Valencian Community were these days at an average reservation volume of 70% for this bridge, with the province of Valencia at 62.2% of confirmed reservations and with the city of Valencia at 60.2%. The percentages will presumably increase – about five points, according to Hosbec – with the typical last-minute reservations.
In the province of Castellón the data drops to 53%, a figure associated with the seasonality of the area, notes Hosbec, who highlights how inland destinations such as Montanejos and Morella do obtain data between 65%-70% occupancy. .
Campsites are also facing these days with good figures. The Alicante Camping Association has predicted an “excellent” Constitution bridge for all of its members, with average occupancy levels above 95%, due to the addition of senior European tourists who are already staying and due to tourism. proximity national that has made its reservations for the next few days.
The addition of the senior client of European origin and the local family tourist has caused the reservations of pitches and motorhomes to reach 100%. In the case of accommodation in cabins and bungalows, reservation levels will be very close to 90%, especially due to family demand from residents in the province of Alicante itself, as well as other nearby territories such as Valencia, Murcia and Albacete. Likewise, the association predicts that the behavior for the Christmas holidays, between December 26 and January 6, will be “very similar” to that of this last long weekend of the year, with “high occupancy” levels both on the plot and in the cabin. .
Added to this tourist boom is a price increase, widespread in all Spanish cities. Hotel rates rise more than 20% this long weekend and next Christmas compared to last year, according to data from the consulting firm Simon-Kurcher, specialized in strategy and marketing, which assures that despite the fact that prices have already accumulated a more increase of 35% from 2021, there will be no negative impact on demand.
According to the consulting firm, among the cities with the greatest growth are Valencia and Seville, which have increased their rates by more than 58% and 44%, respectively, compared to last year. The same figure, the average hotel rate in Valencia is 158 euros compared to the 232 euros that will be requested during the Christmas season itself. In Alicante it will be 113 euros now and 147 at Christmas, while Madrid already exceeds the rate of 240 euros and in the coming holidays it will go up to 278 euros.
The increase in hotel prices is common after the pandemic. In 2021 the increase in the Valencian Community was 15.5% according to the INE, compared to 20.7% in Spain; and in 2022 the increase was 8.5% in Valencian hotels and 7.8%. While waiting for the figures for this year that is now ending, the Visit València statistics referring to the Valencian capital do show an increase in the price of hotel accommodation of 13.6% with figures from January to October of this year and of hotel profitability in percentages of 17.5%.
