British tourists have overtaken Spanish visitors in Benidorm for the first time since the pandemic began, according to hotel industry data. The surge in bookings has pushed occupancy levels close to pre-Covid figures, with hotels operating at near full capacity.
Toni Mayor, president of the Benidorm, Costa Blanca and Valencia Region Hotel Association (Hosbec), said the British market now accounts for 44.6 percent of tourists, followed by Belgian and Dutch visitors at 2.7 and 2.5 percent respectively. He noted that the recovery has been driven by international demand, with Spain seen as a safe destination amid the Ukraine conflict.
Hotel occupancy in Benidorm reached 68.9 percent in the week starting March 28, up 2.4 percentage points from the previous week. March closed with an average occupancy of 67.5 percent. Mayor expressed optimism for Easter and summer, adding that the war in Ukraine has not negatively affected reservations so far.
The tourism sector almost ground to a halt during the pandemic but has now nearly returned to pre-Covid levels. The hotel plant is practically 100 percent operational in Valencia and Costa Blanca, while in Benidorm and Castellón it is close to 90 percent. Mayor attributed the rebound to the British market, which has taken the lead for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Social media users have shared images of sun-seeking Britons enjoying the warm weather in Benidorm, with temperatures forecast to reach 21 degrees Celsius this week. One Twitter user, @IreneInBenidorm, posted a picture of shirtless tourists basking in the sun, prompting responses from Britons relieved to escape the rainy UK weather.
