Local getaways, the best way to reconnect with the area

Recent studies on tourism trends point to a growing preference for 3- or 4-day getaways over longer trips. This is evidenced, for example, by a recent study conducted by the Eurostars Hotel Company among its more than 8,000 clients, which reveals, among other things, that 64% of travelers prefer to take advantage of weekends and long weekends to enjoy nearby destinations, leading to more frequent and planned trips. However, a shift away from seasonality is also a visible trend, as 30% of respondents prefer autumn, given its pleasant weather and charming landscapes, far removed from the crowds typical of summer. The hotel chain's survey also highlights that 52% of travelers seek authenticity and a break from daily stress through immersive cultural experiences, while 41% also opt for wellness tourism.

Rediscovering the simplicity of the territory

As geographer and PhD in Tourism and Leisure Alba Font points out, what we're increasingly looking for is "to disconnect, break with routine, and reconnect with what's essential: authentic experiences that bring us well-being and meaning, often on weekends and short breaks." In her opinion, autumn and winter invite precisely this, "to take refuge and rediscover what's close to home." For Font, who is also a lecturer and researcher in the Economics and Business Studies department at the UOC and a member of the NOUTUR research group, these are months of calm, "for connecting with our country, for walking without haste, and for moving at nature's pace," in which, "far from summer schedules and the hustle and bustle of the city, we learn to value what we have nearby: the diversity of landscapes." Font notes that "we seek and need experiences that go beyond rest." Moments that can be "transformative and reflect a new way of understanding tourism and leisure: more sustainable, more human, more regenerative."

Font summarizes the possibilities that Catalonia offers visitors during the autumn and winter months: "The country breathes a balance between serenity and vitality: forests tinged with reds, yellows, and ochres; vineyards resting after the harvest; villages recovering their essence and their counterpart, inland, nature, clear and vibrant; coastal and fishing villages regaining serenity and the most spectacular bursts of color at sunset." For Font, it is also a time for culture and memory: "Towns revive traditions, fairs, and markets, and museums and heritage sites become havens for a deeper understanding of the country's history."

The rise of ecotourism

Personalizing the experience, understood as offering visitors options tailored to their interests, values, and pace, is a clear trend in contemporary tourism. In Font's words, "Catalonia has a very solid foundation to respond to it: territorial diversity, a rich cultural and natural heritage, and a tourism sector that increasingly understands the importance of authenticity." However, the geographer and PhD in Tourism and Leisure points out that personalization should be understood "as a way to humanize tourism," which implies "getting to know the visitor better, but also respecting the territory and the communities that host them." She continues, "When the experience is consistent with the identity of the place, it truly becomes transformative, both for those who travel and for those who live there." In this sense, Font emphasizes, "regenerative tourism is gaining momentum."

Just a few days ago, Món Sant Benet hosted the Global Ecotourism Forum (GEF2025), which discussed global challenges and defined a common agenda focused on regenerative and universal ecotourism. When asked about the attractions of this type of tourism, which is more focused on landscapes, slow And based on observation and connection with nature, as opposed to the more traditional or mass approach, Ponç Feliu, director of the Cabo de Creus Natural Park and the Empordà Wetlands Natural Park, emphasizes the possibility of "discovering the true essence of the territory, the landscapes and the people."

Actively enjoy nature

Feliu emphasizes that ecotourism also allows us to "access less frequented, more authentic places at more suitable times of year, as well as participate in activities not typically offered by conventional tourism." These activities include kayaking and boat trips; listening to the deer rut; observing vultures at feeding stations; discovering birds during migrations; and cycling, "an activity with a low environmental impact that also allows access to places inaccessible by car," he points out. It represents a wide range of possibilities, previously less explored, which also guarantee that people can enjoy more engaging activities and discover how the local people live, how the colors of the trees change, how these natural spaces have been traditionally used, and so on. "You experience nature much more deeply, you can contemplate it more fully, and you can experience it more fully," Feliu emphasizes.

This is the kind of experience that both local and international visitors are increasingly seeking. "Before, people only went out into nature for more conventional tourism, but nowadays they're opting for different and more authentic activities. Just as there used to be more contemplative approaches and a more passive connection with nature, now people want to enjoy it in a more active way." This is a segment that families with children are drawn to, "as it offers enjoyable activities that allow them to learn while having fun," as well as older people and more active groups who want to go hiking, horseback riding, kayaking along the coast, and so on. "From the perspective of the natural parks," Feliu explains, "we're very happy to be able to host these kinds of activities, but it's also important to prevent overcrowding and over-visiting." The challenge for natural park managers, Feliu concludes, "is precisely this: to enable new activities and ensure that these activities are harmoniously integrated into the landscape."