Campsites, caravans and nature tourism will be the first to take off

It will not be until November, they add, when corporate travel and event tourism are activated, while in December international tourists will begin to arrive and depart.

The European Commission launched a message on Wednesday that seeks to save at least part of the summer season in the EU, where the tourism industry represents around 10% of GDP (in Spain 12.3%), by establishing safe corridors between countries with similar epidemiological situations, within a three-phase plan.

THE CAMPS REQUEST A NATIONAL PROMOTION CAMPAIGN

The Spanish Federation of Campings (FEEC) has asked the Government to launch a promotion campaign towards national and proximity tourism through Turespaña and to reinforce the idea of ​​these establishments as a "healthy and safe" offer, according to its president, Ana Beriain.

More than 1,000 campsites reopened on Monday, May 11, once the Ministry of Health approved the protocol prepared for the sector by the Institute of Tourist Quality of Spain (ICTE), which applies to all establishments in the country regardless of their type, category or size.

The sector received 8.23 ​​million travelers last year, which made a total of 40.2 million nights, and is the third segment chosen by tourists after hotels and tourist apartments.

CARAVANS OFFER SAFETY

The motorhome subsector is also presented as a safe vacation alternative this summer, because it tends to take place in nature and, in general, in spaces with little concentration of people.

According to the Spanish Association of Caravanning Industry and Commerce (Aseicar) in Spain there are some 300,000 caravans, and the registrations of this type of vehicle have grown continuously since 2013, up to 8,900 in 2019. There are no official rental evolution data. .

However, both the campsites and the caravan business point out that the prohibition to circulate between different provinces that will govern until the last phase of the de-escalation plan, at the end of June, will make it difficult for them to return to normal activity.

RURAL HOUSES AND APARTMENTS

The new health security concerns of tourists are here to stay, they coincide in the sector, which must work with this new factor and develop protocols so that customers perceive that they are staying in safe places.

The example of China, which is two months ahead in the evolution of the pandemic, points in that direction: searches for keywords such as "hygienic conditions" or "contactless service" have multiplied by five and the past bridge of the First de Mayo searches for tourist apartments or rural houses doubled compared to the previous year.

ANOTHER OPTION: HOUSE EXCHANGE

According to a study carried out among its clients by HomeExchange, a portal for the exchange of holiday homes, the vast majority of travelers will move to national destinations, where they can carry out outdoor activities and where they have a guarantee of cancellation of the reservation.

The weekenddesk.es themed getaways portal says that since May began searches for vacation options have increased by 29%, for destinations close to home and in nature, which can be reached by private vehicle. Andalusia, Galicia and the Valencian Community are the preferred autonomous communities in these searches.

61% of the users consulted by this portal - who work in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy, in addition to Spain - plan to travel away from home for at least a week or more when the law allows it. Boutique hotels, private hot tubs, and half-board lead the search.

POSSIBILITY OF CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES

The different agents also agree that customers will demand tourism products with greater flexibility for changes and cancellations, in addition to travel insurance that includes pandemics.

Thus, more and more reservation portals and hotel chains are offering it in the face of uncertainty about what can and cannot be done in the near future.