After a winter spent primarily in lockdown that seemed to last an eternity, millions are setting their sights on enjoying a summer in the sun. Having seen its tourism sector largely decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain is tipped for a summer tourism boom.
But there are already those who are making plans to hit the beach and soak up the sun, even as much of Europe remains in the grip of a major third wave of COVID-19. With Berlin having now lifted its quarantine requirement for travellers returning from the Balearic Islands, thousands have begun flocking to Mallorca, Minorca and Ibiza for weekend breaks and extended stays.
Spain is one of the main countries pushing authorities to back an extensive EU ‘vaccine passport’ program, in order to allow travellers who have been vaccinated to visit the country this summer.
In the meantime, the sudden influx of German tourists has not been particularly well received by the Spanish population in general. Spaniards are still unable to travel freely due to Coronavirus restrictions and Germany is currently one of the major hotspots of the growing third wave.
Predictions for Spain’s travel and tourism sector for the rest of the year remain sketchy, though the numbers are unlikely to be a patch on the usual annual averages. In 2019, more than 80 million foreign travellers visited Spain; the second biggest number of visitors for any country in the world.
Last year this plummeted to just 19 million, a fall of more than 80% and the country’s poorest performance since 1969. This was due to domestic and international travel restrictions making it difficult or at least unsafe for people to visit Spain for recreational purposes.
The Spanish government is considering a wide variety of measures to ensure a safe and successful summer season; this includes the introduction of an international vaccine certificate scheme to ensure only those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 gain access to the country.
The Benefits of Self-Contained Villa Holidays
When the Spanish tourism market once again opens its doors, it is entirely likely that millions of those travelling to the country will have lingering safety concerns. In various countries including the UK, certain segments of the accommodation sector are being permitted to accept guests before others.
The fallout of the COVID-19 crisis is likely to motivate more people than ever before to consider the potential benefits of self-contained villa holidays. In summer hotspots like Spain where visitors instinctively flock to hotels and apartment blocks, the advantages of staying in a private villa have never been more relevant.
Privacy
For example, staying in your own private villa means complete privacy without having to come into close contact with anyone else at any time. The fact that luxury villas are usually situated in comparatively secluded locations makes them a preferable choice to cramped and congested hotels in busy urban centers.
Safety and Cleanliness
Holidaying in a villa means you are able to take total control over the cleanliness and hygiene of your accommodation; you will never have to worry about the hygiene practices or questionable habits of other guests, or the extent to which a hotel’s housekeeping contingency is keeping the place in a sanitary condition.
Both of these are expected to become priorities for many travellers visiting Spain this year, which could lead to a spike in demand for luxury private villas in desirable resorts.