The Pyrenees are close to full capacity during Holy Week thanks to the snowfall in March.
The tourism sector expects occupancy rates above 85% in the Pyrenees, the Costa Brava, and Terres de l'Ebre, improving on last year's expectations.
GironaOptimism is mounting in the Catalan tourism sector for this Easter, with very favorable occupancy forecasts, averaging over 85% between Holy Thursday and Easter Monday, and in many cases approaching full capacity. After a rainy March, which left a green and flowery spring landscape, excellent snow depths in the Pyrenees, and lush rivers, guests are eager to get outdoors and enjoy nature. Despite the forecast for somewhat unstable weather during the holidays, with sun, clouds, and some rain, campsites, apartments, rural houses, hotels, and restaurants are confident that there will be no last-minute cancellations and are hoping for a more relaxed atmosphere. improve last year's data.
The highest occupancy prospects are concentrated in the Pyrenees, where ski resorts offer around 250 skiable kilometers thanks to the accumulated rainfall of recent weeks. The late snowfall this year will allow the slopes, both in the Lleida and Girona Pyrenees, to round off a season that started late but will end very positively. "We have significant snowfalls, especially on the Lleida side and at high altitudes, in resorts such as Espot, Port Ainé, and Boí Taüll, which allow for skiing in very good conditions, especially in the morning," explains Enric Serra, business and strategy director of the six stations of the Catalan Railways (FGC). He adds: "Despite a difficult start in December, since we opened, conditions have been very good, and hotels throughout the Pyrenees will be close to 95% occupancy." In addition to the skiing scene, the mountain tourism sector also expects a very warm welcome with a wide range of adventure sports for all ages. Likewise, although the snow has already melted at lower altitudes, rural areas of Central Catalonia, in regions such as Osona and Berguedà, are also expecting many visitors, with the attraction of flowering rapeseed fields and the full reservoirs.
The Costa Brava and the Costa Daurada, around 85%
On the Costa Brava, the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board of the Girona Provincial Council estimates that hotels, restaurants, campsites, and tourist apartments will exceed 85% occupancy, especially with visitors from Barcelona. Some of whom, due to the proximity of the destination, are expected to book last minute, pending the weather. Visitors from the rest of Europe, particularly French, Dutch, and German, will also arrive on the Girona coast. Foreign tourists who choose the Costa Brava as a destination can fly directly to Girona Airport, which has doubled its number of operations compared to last Easter. Incoming and outgoing aircraft traffic at Barcelona Airport has also increased (11%), as has cruise ship traffic.
In Tarragona, the Costa Daurada and Terres de l'Ebre are also preparing for occupancy rates of between 80% and 90%, particularly driven by sports tourism. Up to 45,000 participants are expected, including athletes and technical teams, who will take part in soccer, basketball, volleyball, handball, and water polo tournaments in municipalities such as Salou, Cambrils, Reus, Tarragona, Torredembarra, and Calafell. "The creation of an extensive sports offering has ensured high employment for us for days," explains Berta Cabré, president of the Tarragona Hospitality and Tourism Business Federation. She continues: "Sports tourism helps deseasonalize and boost the local economy. In addition to athletes, their families come, taking the opportunity to discover the area."
Barcelona does not improve last year
Finally, Barcelona will also be filled with visitors these days, mostly Americans and Germans. The more likely it is that Easter falls, the lower the occupancy rate. This year, being in April, we expected better figures, but that hasn't been the case, and we've seen that since July we've been steadily losing between one and two percentage points of occupancy.
Americans remain one of the majority nationalities among Catalan tourists. However, travel agencies confirm that in recent weeks they have suffered a slight drop in bookings to this destination, due to the trade war and the instability of Donald Trump's tariffs, although they are confident that the situation will soon return to normal.