The United States is losing ground among Catalan tourists due to the Trump effect

BarcelonaWith so many Christmas movies set in New York, the American city was a top choice for spending the last holidays of the year. But no fictional plot can withstand Donald Trump's recent political decisions in continuing to entice Catalan tourists. Travel agencies have noticed this, having seen New York plummet from one of the top spots in the Christmas destination rankings to seventh place. "The United States has lost prominence as a destination," commented Jordi Martí, president of the Corporate Association of Specialized Travel Agencies (Acave). The first warning sign came this summer, when the association already noticed a "clear decline" in bookings to the United States. The unpopularity of the Republican leader played a role, but so did fear of what might happen at border controls, not to mention the obstacles the US administration places on those who have visited popular destinations like Cuba or more remote ones like Iran. This trend has continued past the summer season, and there are no forecasts for improvement next year. "Everything remains exactly the same. The early morning tweets don't let you relax, and it doesn't seem like anything is going to change," Martí insists. However, for now, Acave points out that the geopolitical context is not affecting the arrival of US tourists here, although some indicators say otherwise"We're trying hard to find signs of decline, but the truth is, it's not happening," the association's president points out. This is one of the biggest concerns for the tourism sector, especially in Barcelona, where American travelers spend the most and have a very significant impact on the cruise industry. Across Spain, the United States remains one of the most important sources of tourists, ranking third during the Christmas holidays, only behind established markets like France.

Other destinations

The decline in popularity of the United States has led to a significant shift towards other destinations among local tourists during Christmas and New Year's, with Christmas markets in European cities proving particularly popular, especially those in Alsace, Belgium, and Germany. Another classic that is gaining traction this year, thanks to the new Norwegian flights from El Prat Airport, is a visit to Santa Claus in Lapland, although this isn't an option for every budget. Trips to see the Northern Lights, whether in Lapland itself or in Iceland, as well as in a lesser-known destination like Greenland, are also increasingly popular. Asian countries have taken over from the United States this summer. Destinations like China, Thailand, and Japan have seen a clear increase in visitors, although in the latter, a rejection of mass tourism is beginning to spread. More trips

With the year drawing to a close, more than half of Spanish travel agencies anticipate a 5% to 15% increase in booked trips compared to last year. This improvement holds true when considering only Christmas and New Year's bookings, holidays that, while not yet approaching the revenue generated by Easter, provide a welcome boost to the sector as the year draws to a close. What has also improved this year is the sector's profitability; specifically, for 75% of agencies nationwide, regardless of prices, which not only remain high but continue to rise. Prices are not expected to fall because demand remains strong, despite some destinations becoming prohibitively expensive.