The Catalan tourism sector demands solutions that allow, as soon as possible, the arrival of Russian tourists, since the borders of their country with the EU are still closed and their vaccine is not approved by the European health, while expressing their concern, given the high level of spending of these visitors.
As explained by the director of the Catalan Tourism Agency, David Font, although there are some flights between Russia and the EU, this does not allow tourists to arrive in a generalized way, which could happen from the end of August or September, which it would mean missing the summer season.
The Generalitat considers the Russian market “strategic” for the recovery of the tourism sector
Another element that Font highlights is that the Russian vaccine, at the moment, is not validated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or by the Spanish Government, which makes it difficult for vaccinated Russian citizens to come.
For this reason, Font hopes that the borders will be reopened as soon as possible and that, if the vaccine is one of the requirements for this and if it complies with health protocols, it will be approved quickly.
Russian tourism is one of the most faithful “mature” markets in Catalonia, since it travels all year round, has a high purchasing power and moves throughout the territory, since it is interested in urban tourism, shopping, the beach, as well as culture or gastronomy.
In 2019, more than 795,000 Russian tourists arrived in Catalonia, generating an expense of more than 1,160 million euros
In 2019, more than 795,000 Russian tourists arrived in Catalonia, generating an expenditure of more than 1,160 million euros, a figure that places it in the fifth international market that leaves the most income in the community, with an average expenditure per tourist of 1,492 euros.
In addition, Russian tourism that arrives in Catalonia represents between 50 and 60% of the total that arrives in Spain.
According to Font, the Generalitat works to “guarantee the recovery of the tourism sector” and there are certain markets, such as Russia, that are “strategic”.
Russian tourism is one of the most faithful “mature” markets in Catalonia
In this sense, Catalonia participated this year in the Moscow tourism fair (MITT) with the challenge of maintaining the good positioning that it already had before the pandemic among this public.
An example of the importance of Russian tourism for the Catalan capital is that in April the Barcelona Tourism consortium carried out its first face-to-face promotion mission since the start of the pandemic to Russia, specifically to Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
The director of Tourism of Barcelona, Marian Muro, has asked for the approval of the vaccine to be expedited and has shown her concern that Russians, for the moment, cannot come to Catalonia this summer.
Catalonia participated this year in the Moscow tourism fair (MITT)
As an example of the seriousness of the issue, he has given that there are hotels on the coast whose turnover depends on Russian tourism between 40 and 70%.
The spokesman for the Tarragona Province Hospitality and Tourism Federation, Xavier Guardià, has assured that for the Costa Dorada, the Russian is the third international market, after the French and the British, with more than 1.2 million overnight stays in 2019.
There are hotels on the coast whose turnover depends on Russian tourism between 40 and 70%
Within Catalonia, the Costa Dorada is one of their favorite destinations, so Guardià hopes that the situation will be solved shortly so that they come to Catalonia instead of going to other competing markets.
According to the president of the Paseo de Gracia Merchants Association, Luis Sans, the Russian tourist is a good customer for commerce and has also stressed that there are many Russians with second residences in Barcelona.
From Barcelona Oberta, which groups together the main tourist commercial axes of the city, its president, Gabriel Jené, also considers that Russians are one of the most important tourist groups for the commerce of the city center, especially in the sector of the luxury.
In addition, he has confirmed that a certain boom in visitors is beginning to be noticed in general, which he considers “positive” and means that “they have not forgotten us” because, although the increase in allowed mobility is still marginal, “the movement”.
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