The CEO of NH Hotel Group, Ramón Aragonés, has criticized all public administrations, accusing them of being responsible for the uncontrolled growth of tourist apartments and the creation of public rejection towards the tourism industry with massive protests in the Canary Islands. Aragonés stated that politicians are to blame for not regulating the sector, but it is now too late as the damage has already been done. He emphasized the need to defend tourism, as it is synonymous with defending Spain. He warned against overreacting, giving the example of Amsterdam where tourism is being negatively impacted. His remarks were met with widespread applause from the 200 attending entrepreneurs.
Aragonés emphasized the significant damage that has been done to the tourism sector, making it very challenging to restore its reputation. He mentioned that the industry is being blamed for the lack of available rental apartments, leading to absurd situations like anti-tourism protests in Tenerife. He likened the situation to imagining protests against wineries in La Rioja. Similarly, Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá, agreed that a key challenge for administrations is to limit the uncontrolled growth of tourist rentals. He warned against the negative impact of mass tourism on local communities and emphasized the importance of focusing on quality over quantity.
Aragonés and Escarrer’s comments align with criticisms made by Antonio Catalán, president of ACHM Hotels by Marriott, who harshly criticized the current tourism business model in Spain. The country is on track to welcome 100 million foreign visitors in 2024, following a record-breaking year with 85.3 million tourists. Catalán highlighted the need for changes in the industry, noting that while there is a growth in tourist numbers, the focus should be on increasing spending, which has seen a 28% increase compared to a 15% growth in tourist arrivals. This, he believes, should be the way forward for the industry.
Overall, the speakers emphasized the importance of regulating the tourism sector to avoid over-tourism and negative impacts on local communities. They called for a shift towards quality tourism experiences and prioritizing the spending of visitors over sheer numbers. The need for a balance between tourism growth and sustainability was highlighted as a key challenge for administrations. The industry leaders stressed the importance of defending and preserving the reputation of the tourism sector, which plays a vital role in the economy of Spain. They called for a more strategic and sustainable approach to managing tourism growth in the coming years.
In conclusion, the discussions at the Foro Hosteltur 2024 highlighted the urgent need for regulatory measures to address the challenges facing the tourism industry in Spain. Speakers warned against the negative impacts of uncontrolled growth in tourist rentals and mass tourism on local communities. They emphasized the importance of focusing on quality tourism experiences and increasing spending from visitors as opposed to simply increasing tourist numbers. The speakers called on administrations to take immediate action to strike a balance between tourism growth and sustainability, in order to preserve the reputation and economic contribution of the tourism sector in Spain.
