Tag Archives: Spain

FITUR 2025, taking place from 22 to 26 January, organised by IFEMA MADRID, will be highlighting the strong tourism potential between Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where around ten companies will be exhibiting their tourism offers at the trade fair, mainly tour operators and Dubai’s iconic Atlantis Hotel, among others. The recovery of the Persian Gulf has been faster and stronger than that of other markets, with an economy that is growing above the OECD average and with higher spending and disposable income per consumer. Thus, the tourism sector in both territories has significant potential for developing specialised products. Spain experienced a record year for tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region in 2023 with unprecedented growth in both the number of travellers and tourism expenditure. The total number of GCC residents visiting Spain in 2023 reached 434,000, 33% more than in 2022, with an average stay of 8.6 days. Specifically, visitors from the UAE totalled more than 140,000 and spending grew by 37.8%, with an average spend of 2,668 euros, 26% more than in 2022. According to industry sources, around 200,000 Spanish tourists visit Dubai every year. In 2023, tourists from the Gulf region spent more than 1.138 billion euros in Spain, 64.7% more than in 2022, according to Turespaña estimates based on INE data (Frontur and Egatur). These travellers are considered as “large consumers”, with spending well above their European counterparts. Connectivity with Spain is very good and airlines have increased in all the countries of the Persian Gulf, both in terms of frequency and new routes. In the forecasts for flights from the UAE between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2025, capacity to Spain has …

Emirates has become the airline of choice for thousands of Korean passengers seeking to explore new and exciting destinations. Last summer season Emirates carried over 35,000 passengers between Incheon and Dubai, as well as beyond. The airline provides a seamless travel experience for Koreans between Incheon and top travel destinations in its worldwide network via Dubai. Emirates unveiled the top five summer travel destinations that have been gaining popularity among Korean travellers – Zurich, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Prague. With its extensive global network and world-class products and services, Emirates continues to be the airline of choice for thousands of Korean passengers seeking to explore new and exciting destinations, having carried over 35,000 passengers last summer season alone between Incheon and Dubai, as well as beyond. 1. Zurich, Switzerland Zurich is known for its unique mixture of metropolitan charm with the vibrant beauty of nature. Visitors can soak up the sunshine while exploring the scenic Old Town, take a refreshing Lake Zurich cruise, or indulge in shopping along the Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world’s most exclusive shopping streets. For those seeking summer adventures, the city provides easy access to thrilling alpine activities like Mt. Titlis and Jungfraujoch, providing a perfect escape from the heat. Emirates operates double daily flights between Dubai and Zurich, using a mix of A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. 2. Barcelona, Spain Barcelona bursts with energy and charm during the summer. While in the city, people can enjoy the lively Barceloneta Beach with its surf-friendly waves and beachfront restaurants. Visitors can also dive into the city’s buzzing nightlife at Chiringuitos, which is always full of live music and festive atmosphere. Don’t forget to explore Central Barcelona at …

The share of hotels sold via the direct channel in Spain increased by an average of 18% during the summer of 2024 over other channels thanks to the determination of the hoteliers to improve the profitability of the hotels again, according to data from Mirai. Although during the initial weeks of the UEFA Euro Cup 2024 sales growth slowed down, probably also due to the bad weather in Spain, in the last few days the company has observed that growth is picking up again. This rebound suggests a potentially very positive last-minute booking trend in most tourist destinations. At a global level Mirai – which provides hotels with technology and operations support to sell in the direct channel – has experienced an 11% increase of direct hotel roomnights sales worldwide, with Spain surpassing this figure with a 12% rise and ADR increasing by around 7%. Spain’s primary inbound source markets, excluding the domestic market, have shown remarkable growth in nights booked compared to 2023. Specifically, the United Kingdom source market has seen a 12% increase, with source markets such as the United States at 18% and Germany at 14%. “2024 is proving to be a landmark year for Spain’s tourism sector, especially for hotels’ direct bookings and the increase in direct hotel sales share this summer” said Javier Delgado Muerza, CEO EMEA at Mirai. “This remarkable growth in direct hotel bookings is thanks to the hard work of hoteliers and our team’s commitment to boosting their profitability”. “To continue this positive trend, we advise hoteliers to focus on a few key areas. First, maintain a clean and organised distribution strategy to ensure seamless booking experiences for guests by offering the …

At the recently concluded panel discussion celebrating women’s day with TTME, Namratha Rose – Marketing and Partnership Manager at Spain Tourism GCC shared that the travellers today are more open to discover and explore new destinations than before, “there has been significant development in GCC and from 2022 there has been a massive increase of travellers seeking different experiences, people are not restricting themselves and this opens us more opportunities.” She expressed this on the outlook of the region at the special panel session conducted to celebrate International Women’s Day by TTME at the Screening Room at Paramount Hotel Dubai.

It was revealed that Spain recorded 56% increase of GCC travellers in 2023 compared to 2019 with a 33% increase compared to 2022. Saudi Arabia can be presented as the prime example of this growth, with more than 100% increase 19-23 and with a 92% increase in 23-22, the total number of Saudi tourists has surged up to 182 thousand, surpassing UAE as the main GCC market for Spain, and consolidating its status and the country’s vision for 2030. United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait follow after with this trend. The total number of GCC residents visiting Spain in 2023 reached 434 thousand, with an average stay of 8.6 days and a notable increase in expenditure. Factors such as good weather, family-friendly environments, and cultural resonance including the great arab legacy attract GCC travelers to Spain. Looking ahead to 2024, Spain aims to further consolidate its position as a top destination for Middle Eastern travelers through marketing campaigns, strategic alliances and multiple events. In line with this, Spain Tourism recently concluded a successful roadshow across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, showcasing various regions and offerings of Spain to travel trade partners. The event facilitated networking and collaboration opportunities, emphasizing Spain’s commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for Middle Eastern travelers. Commenting on the success of the roadshow,Daniel Rosado, Director/Tourism Counsellor at Spain Tourism, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are delighted with the positive response and engagement we received during our roadshow in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE. These regions hold immense potential for Spanish tourism, and our collaboration with travel trade partners has strengthened our commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for Middle Eastern travelers.” The roadshow aligns with Spain Tourism’s broader …

TURESPAÑA revealed that the number of tourists from the GCC market has increased by 15% year over year in the first quarter of 2023. The tourism authority aims to attract even more GCC travellers this summer and across the year, as it highlights a diversified offering of lesser-known locations across the country, to appeal to visitors seeking new and unique travel experiences. dnata travel has partnered with TURESPAÑA to deliver unparalleled opportunities for travellers across the GCC countries. The collaboration will provide customers with access to an extensive portfolio of travel products and services across Spain at a time of high demand. Meerah Ketait, Head of Retail and Leisure UAE at dnata Travel, commented: “We have seen a significant increase in bookings to Spain by GCC travellers across and beyond the UAE. The Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Ibiza are trending, offering travellers world-class resorts alongside beautiful beaches. The Canary Islands have also become increasingly popular, providing ideal destinations for nature lovers with hiking trails that wind through ancient forests and volcanic landscapes. The north of Spain, also known as ‘Green Spain’ where incredible nature meets unforgettable gastronomy, is also gaining traction and curiosity from this region.” Daniel Rosado, Director at TURESPAÑA, added: “The UAE has always been one of the top tourism markets for Spain, and we expect 2023 to be the best year ever for tourism from across the GCC. There has been a significant increase in air connectivity in recent years, while our countries have been fostering cultural exchanges and collaborations. These initiatives include art exhibitions, music festivals, and educational programs, which help promote tourism and mutual understanding.” TURESPAÑA and dnata Travel’s recommended itinerary for one week …

For the first time, the two most visited countries by the GCC, France and Spain have collaborated to bring out a special event titled, “Marhaba France, Spain 2023” which will take place in the Sultanate of Oman from 6th to 9th March 2023. The on-site event will bring in 70 suppliers from the two countries to meet 100 buyers from nine countries in GCC and ME region and expects to conduct over 2000 meetings. Karim Mekachera, Regional Director, Middle East, and Turkey, Atout France, “We will be organising Marhaba in collaboration with Spain and will be named as “Marhaba France, Spain 2023”. We have an array of 70 suppliers that will come over to meet with the travel trade from the region coming from nine different countries and of course this year we wanted to make something new and something different and as we work in the tourism industry, we thought to organise this event in another great destination and very popular in France, the Sultanate of Oman. Over three days we will have more than 2000 meetings, along with a special entertainment program, a special press corner for journalists to meet with all the different stake holders and promote both destinations. France and Spain remain as the two first destinations in terms of tourist arrivals in the world, so with this collaboration we also intend to introduce our travel trade to make the most of this event and partnership as they will be able to design new itineraries which can cover both countries France and Spain as they plan for their clients. We want the travel trade to think out of the box and give their Middle East clientele …

A spectacular art installation of more than 80,000 red carnations accompanies the highly anticipated grand opening of the main heart of the new international icon of luxury in the capital, Galería Canalejas. On 3 June, the historic doors of the monumental Galería Canalejas buildings will open for the first time to celebrate the opening of new boutiques for the most prestigious international brands in the world. This grand opening has attracted internationally prestigious fashion and beauty brands to Spain for the first time. For example, the famous Aquazzura brand is opening its first boutique in Spain. Galería Canalejas is also the incomparable setting in which the emblematic Swiss watchmaker OMEGA inaugurates in Spain the new international concept of the firm´s boutiques. Joining these brands will soon open new boutiques at Galería Canalejas for Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo and Giorgio Armani, which is returning to Madrid – at this unbeatable venue – after eight years without a store in the capital. “We are hugely proud to be joined by brands of such great prestige and tradition, and which represent a vision of luxury that is so closely in tune with the one we uphold at Galería Canalejas. The opening of these brands at Galería Canalejas confirms not only the enormously attractive nature of our project for international luxury brands but also the potential of Madrid as a shopping destination, as well as an indisputable benchmark in culture and gastronomy. Galería Canalejas has already become a benchmark in international luxury and has put Madrid on the map of luxury shopping destinations alongside such capital cities as London, Milan or Paris”, said Isabel Antolín, Director of Galería Canalejas. Crossing the threshold of the …

Spain Tourism Office in UAE signed an agreement with Wego, at the Arabian Travel Market. Through this collaboration, Spain Tourism & Wego to promote the ‘You deserve Spain’ campaign providing reassurance for travelers to visit the country again in the new norm. Spain is one of the top searched destinations for MENA travelers. The country is a year-round destination, packed with unique experiences, passionate people, and rich cultural traditions, not to mention its excellent dining scene, wine-making traditions and chic cities and multiple shopping avenues  across the country that is perfect for all types of travelers. Daniel Rosado, Spain Tourism, said: “We are very optimistic and with Wego as our partner, we are aiming to have a great summer and are eagerly waiting to welcome all travelers from GCC.” Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India of Wego, said: “We are thrilled to offer another stunning destination for our users to visit. Spain is on the MENA’s top travelers’ list with over 316,000 searches in Q1 2022. This partnership is in line with our efforts to provide more choice to our users and boost tourism recovery.” Travelers are invited to experience the heritage and arts and culture of the city, the stunning beaches, the coasts, and authentic food, among many sports adventures that await all the types of travelers.    

The improvement of the epidemiological situation in Spain and the developing progress in the vaccination roll-out, both in Spain and in many countries around the world, make it possible to ease the measures for entry into Spain for tourist purposes. The new regulations, described in this document, will come into force on 7 June. If you are travelling to Spain for tourism purposes from a country that does not belong to the European Union or the European Economic Area, what are the entry requirements If you are travelling from a country or territory included in the list of countries with low incidence, excluded from the risk zone, you will be able to travel without the need for a diagnostic test or a certificate of vaccination or immunity. At the moment the countries included in this list are: Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and China and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao (subject to reciprocity). If you are travelling from a country or territory that is not included in the list of exempted countries, from 7 June tourists will be allowed to enter if they have a certificate of vaccination issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin from 14 days after the date of administration of the last dose of the complete vaccination schedule. The vaccines accepted shall be those authorised by the European Medicines Agency or those that have completed the World Health Organisation’s emergency use process. Currently, these vaccines are those produced by Pfizer-Biontech, Moderna, Astra-Zeneca, Jansen/Johnson&Johnson, Sinovac and Sinopharm. The certificate of vaccination shall include at least the following …