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ARCHIVED - Tourist bookings soar for the first weekend after State of Alarm in Spain
Spain sees huge surge in tourist bookings for the first weekend since the end of State of Alarm as residents head for the coasts.
Tour operators estimate tourist bookings have suddenly soared by a massive 119 per cent compared to last month following the lifting of perimeter closures in Spain.
Relaxed new measures mean Spaniards and expats can travel between regions, a luxury that wasn't allowed prior to May 9, making this weekend the first in which national holidaymakers can get away for a break.
And according to Ramón Estalella, secretary general of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (Cehat), this has led to a "significant increase" in reservations.
"We started to notice a few days ago that bookings were increasing. People in Spain are eager to travel, more than we could have imagined," he said.
So much so that online travel agency eDream claims to have seen a 119 per cent increase in hotel and accommodation reservations since April, with Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Sevilla proving to be the most popular destinations.
Another online agency Rumbo confirmed that domestic destinations are benefitting most from the surge, accounting for more than half of the total bookings, adding that "Spain appears as number one in the list of searches for the month".
While Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Sevilla remain popular hotspots, data compiled by Travelgate X, which monitors travel movements, reveals Andalucia is a preferred destination, with 8.45 per cent of all hotel reservations in the last seven days.
Also in the top 10 are the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Catalonia and the Valencian Region.
However, while the boost in bookings is welcomed, Cehat has warned that domestic tourism is not enough and "covers only 30 per cent of the total number of beds", stressing that the "arrival of foreign holidaymakers is necessary".
With an influx of domestic tourists anticipated this weekend, and most cities and resorts expected to be busy, regional and local councils are asking police to enforce restrictions that are still in place to combat the spread of Covid.
Regular patrols will be made to check restaurants and bars are adhering to closing times - which are set by the regions themselves - and that visitors and residents alike continue to social distance and wear masks.