Ramon Estalella, general secretary of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation, spoke to the BBC and revealed that Spain has many hotels open and ready to take guests but currently there is no way for them to get there following the discrepancy of flights after the Thomas Cook Collapse.
It has been reported by the confederation that over than one million later season visitors will no longer be able to fly into Spanish destinations, which is said to result in the many hotels struggling and possible closure of more than 500 hotels costing hundreds of millions of euros.
The Spanish Islands are likely to be hit hard, the Canaries in particular, which is one of the UK’s main winter sun destinations and is likely to feel the loss of around 400,000 Cook passengers in the coming seasons.
The Spanish government has announced emergency measures of €300 million in support of the Islands, and will include a reduction in airport fees, and plans to spend a further €500 million on improving tourism infrastructure.
President of Spain’s CEAV travel agency association, Rafael Gallego, said it was time for reflection on Spain’s tourism proposition, addressing the fact that holidaymakers are now looking for more than just warm weather from their chosen destination, but are looking for facilities and provisions for a specific activity, special interest or past-time.
