World Tourism Day, which is celebrated every September 27, has gained special importance due to the situation that the tourism sector, as well as many others, has gone through because of the pandemic.
Fortunately, 2021 data are encouraging, and the light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to appear. National tourism has been key for the sector, and in addition, international tourism has been increasing its figures so that we can almost speak of numbers that we have not seen since 2019.
We find a clear example is the Costa Blanca South, which shows really promising data. According to data from its Tourist Office: “Hotel occupancy during the month of July exceeded 74% and, in August, 81%, the average for this summer period being 78%, practically the same as in the summer of 2019. “
This year’s slogan, “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”, aims to go beyond statistics and make visible that behind each number and each percentage, there is a person. Tourism is not an impersonal entity, but quite the opposite. It is the people who make it possible. On the one hand, there are the people who leave their homes each year, either near or far, to travel, to learn about, to visit, to contemplate or to disconnect. On the other hand, there are the people who receive, who organize, who welcome, who serve and who make an effort to ensure that everything is prepared for the arrival and stay of tourists. We are all Tourism.
World Tourism Day promotes the awareness of all, companies, users and workers, of the social, cultural, political and economic value of Tourism, which is also an ally when it comes to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.
In the words of the Secretary General of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization), Zurab Pololikashvili: “In celebrating this day, we express our commitment that as tourism grows, all levels of our broad and diverse industry, from the largest airline to the smallest family business, will benefit from this development. On this day we reaffirm our commitment to leave no one behind as we move forward and strive to rebuild a more prosperous and peaceful world through tourism. This commitment is both timely and necessary. The international travel disruption caused by the pandemic has highlighted the importance of tourism to our societies. The economic and social impact has gone far beyond the sector itself and, in many places, has particularly affected the most vulnerable members of society”.
At Euromarina, we greatly appreciate the work of the UNWTO, based in Madrid, especially that of Mr. Pololikashvili, and we could not agree more with his words. We have experienced first-hand the importance of tourism at a local level in places like Ciudad Quesada, Torrevieja, Guardamar del Segura and Orihuela Costa; more regionally on the Costa Blanca and Costa Cálida; and of course nationwide throughout Spain.
Traveling is part of human nature and Tourism influences in one way or another in all aspects of our economies and societies. We must take care of it and continue working so that this sector keeps on growing, and with it, the whole of society.
According to information from the Secretary of State for Tourism, which includes data up to July 2021, international visitors have increased by 46% compared to last year, spending by these visitors has increased by 112% and 4% more employment has been generated.
The fact that Tourism is approaching the quotas of previous years is always good news and not only for the sector, since the movement generates wealth, for the real estate business, for the service sector, education, health, the transport and ultimately all sectors that make up society.
We are fortunate to live on the most demanded Spanish coast, not only for tourism, but also for those people who decide, after visiting us, to change their residence and come to enjoy the lifestyle on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
This map shows how the flow of visitors to the Valencian Community has been growing as the months of this 2021 passed, the data of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism collect this rise until the month of July, but the figures are definitely optimistic.
From Euromarina, we encourage you to celebrate World Tourism Day. We will be waiting for you in our beautiful Costa Blanca and Costa Cálida. Discover them here!
