Thursday, November 14, 2024 Long-haul markets are emerging as a significant driver for high-impact tourism in Barcelona, according to insights presented by global travel intelligence platform Mabrian during the event “Barcelona 2025: The Tourism We Want,” hosted by Expedia Group. The discussion highlighted three key strategies for attracting quality tourism: leveraging the growing demand from distant markets, promoting cultural and gastronomic experiences, and protecting the city’s global perception. Mabrian’s analysis identified three pivotal trends shaping Barcelona’s international tourism landscape over the next six months: a rebound in Asian demand, fluctuations in the North American market, and increasing connectivity and interest from the Middle East.
Notable growth in travel intention is expected from countries such as Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, with slower but positive signals from China and new routes planned from Singapore and Hong Kong. Barcelona’s air connectivity reflects this demand. In the past year, over 31.
2 million air seats connected the city to domestic and international destinations, marking a 12.5% growth compared to the previous year. For the coming six months, an additional 14.
8 million seats are projected, a 5.5% increase year-over-year. Noteworthy increases in air capacity include Canada (+39%), China (+83.
5%), and Saudi Arabia (+29%), while slight declines are noted in markets like the United States (-1.6%) and t.
