The Chamber defends tourism as a key driver for other economic sectors

BarcelonaAs Aena is about to approve the investment plan for airports for the next five years and with the tourist season in full swing, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce has argued that tourism paves the way for high value-added industries. "If we didn't have tourism, many sectors would suffer, and a lot. The knowledge sector for sure, and exports, too," assured the president of the institution, Josep Santacreu, this Monday.

The link between tourism and the rest of the sectors is air connectivity. The director of economic studies at the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Joan Ramon Rovira, opined that knowledge economy activities "would not be explained, they could not have the power they have had, without this degree of connectivity." The Chamber has presented a study that establishes tourism as the "main and structural engine" for the opening of air routes that connect the Catalan capital with the rest of the world, and which not only transport visitors, but also professionals and goods.

The Chamber's discourse contrasts with the reluctance expressed by economic and social sectors about the negative consequences of tourism. Precisely a month ago, the "Fenix Report" highlighted that it is a "highly subsidized" sector because low wages do not allow workers to generate enough fiscal and social resources to finance the most basic public services. Santacreu recalled that "no activity is neutral" and that "a hospital also has negative externalities, and a factory, too."

Degree of connectivity and potential for improvement

Rovira explained that the Catalan capital has a degree of connectivity with the rest of the world "higher than it should be" for the size of the city and for not having a flag intercontinental airline. However, he assured that there is "room for improvement".

Currently, El Prat is the 21st European airport in cargo capacity, that is, in volume transported. Last year it reached its maximum: 200,741 tons, compared to the 69.5 million moved by the port of Barcelona. Fundamentally, they are fashion products (21.3%), pharmaceuticals and chemicals (17.7%), industrial parts (17.1%) and automotive (15.4%). Long-haul cargo currently stands at 57%.

Beyond imports and exports, the director of the study, Jaume Adrover, has highlighted the impact of connectivity on culture –"they feed each other"– and the attraction of talent and highly qualified workforce.

Expand the infrastructure

Given the conclusions of the study on the importance of connectivity for the knowledge economy, Adrover has asked to get down to business and boost routes between Barcelona and the rest of the world, especially outside Europe. To achieve this, he has insisted once again that the airport city project and the new Aena Master Plan, the roadmap from which to channel a possible expansion of El Prat, are "absolutely key". While the expansion does not move forward, Aena is carrying out small actions at the infrastructure to be able to use it better.It is planned that the Council of Ministers will give the green light to the document that will set Aena's action until 2031 at the latest by the end of this September. In the geographical scope, Adrover has opted to focus efforts towards North America, Asia and "certain" Latin American countries.