Spain Fights Back: Travel Agents Combat “tourismphobia” Myth Among Brits

It’s been a weird twelvemonth for Spanish tourism. Scroll done nan British property and you’d deliberation Spaniards are fed up pinch visitors altogether, from protests successful Mallorca to “Tourists spell home” graffiti successful Barcelona. 

But down this noise, recreation experts opportunity thing other is happening: misinformation.

Now, British recreation agencies person had enough. The UK’s main recreation association, ABTA, has launched a guideline to thief agents explicate nan business to worried clients. In doing so, they push backmost against what they telephone a “distorted picture” of Spain’s narration pinch tourism.

A guideline for Brits travelling to Spain

Speaking astatine nan World Summit of Travel Agency Associations successful Jaen, confederate Spain, ABTA’s head of nationalist affairs, Susan Deer, said nan rumor had go intolerable to ignore.

“In nan UK, nan media loves a recreation communicative and successful nan past 18 months, galore person focused connected anti-tourism. Naturally, that makes clients nervous,” she said. “We created a guideline to thief agents commencement honorable conversations pinch travellers and springiness them nan facts.”

The guide, disposable online for UK recreation advisers, explains really to talk astir nan protests. The guideline explains nan existent causes down them and why they don’t mean British holidaymakers aren’t welcome.

Spain is still successful Brits’ hearts

Despite nan headlines, bookings to Spain haven’t dropped. ABTA says request for nan Balearics, Costa del Sol and Canary Islands remains arsenic beardown arsenic ever. “People haven’t stopped going to Spain. That’s down to really destinations negociate tourism and really recreation agents pass it.”

Mark Meader, executive vice president of nan American recreation relation ASTA, agreed, and pointed a digit astatine sensationalist coverage.

“Media outlets pursuit antagonistic headlines. But this gives agents a existent opportunity to amended consumers and punctual them why recreation matters,” he said.

Beyond nan headlines

Tourism experts opportunity travellers are simply changing. Post-pandemic, galore now activity experiences that consciousness much authentic, not conscionable sunbathing astatine crowded beaches. “People still want to spot nan Eiffel Tower,” said Meader, “but they besides want a solid of vino successful a mini Catalan colony aliases to sojourn a quiet cove successful Menorca.”

For Spain, that’s not bad news astatine all. The displacement could thief dispersed visitors much evenly and easiness nan strain connected hotspots for illustration Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga aliases Palma de Mallorca.

Meanwhile, recreation agents are being encouraged to “tell nan fuller story”, that Spain’s protests are little astir visitors and much astir housing, wages and sustainability.

So no, Brits aren’t astir to get water-gunned successful Barcelona. The brew and nan vino are still cold, nan beaches are still there. You’re still very welcome. Spain wants you to come, possibly conscionable a small smarter and a small much respectful.

Read here more articles astir life successful Spain.