Spain is predicting a strong summer season, particularly from the UK market, while demand from Germany shows signs of softening.
The UK is projected to show positive growth in June, with seat capacity up 8.5%, while Italy is forecast to rise 12% and France 2.6%, despite higher aviation fuel costs.
Germany is expected to soften slightly, down 0.6%, while Nordic markets are largely positive, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.
Secretary of State for Tourism Rosario Sánchez said indicators point to ‘another good season’ and that Spain will maintain a stance of ‘vigilant reassurance’ as the EU tourism market navigates wider volatility caused by the Middle East conflict.
“The data continues to indicate steady growth. In other words, we remain in a situation of calm, with normalised flows and confidence in the tourism sector. That does not mean we are not all on the alert, vigilant and aware of any signs that might indicate potential turbulence in our sector,” she added.
The forecast comes as senior Spanish tourism officials push for UK visitors to be exempt from the Schengen 90-day rule.
Senior figures have called for British travellers to be allowed longer stays in Spain, arguing that the current post-Brexit 90-day limit has a significant impact on the Spanish economy, with long-stay British holidaymakers and second-home owners historically contributing billions of euros to local economies in regions including the Costa del Sol, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
Former Tourism Secretaries Fernando Valdés and Héctor Gómez have backed easing the restriction, saying it has created friction since Brexit. Fernando said it is ‘in Spain’s interest to lobby’ for an exception, and the issue ‘is not something Spain has established by itself or can get rid of,’ stressing that the solution must come from the EU.
Spain has previously lobbied for an extension to allow Brits to stay for six months, although the rule remains capped at 90 days within any 180-day period unless visitors obtain long-stay visas or residency.
