It’s been a long time since the beaches were as crowded as this August. Last year, local tourists came and the space was ample. This one, those with longer distances have been added and foreigners have arrived in a torrent; not even a pin. Taking advantage of the expected circumstance, the municipalities have had a wide sleeve in the concession of beach bars; the justified cut of water in a large part of the shower services has added an additional item to the reduction of quality and professionalism.
Many beaches have given us back the image of the crowded beaches of Benidorm, Marbella, Playa de las Américas or Calvià from the 1970s or 1980s, a faithful reflection of a philosophy according to which the more tourists and offer, the better; the quality is the same, the important thing is to increase prices and make cash.
EFE/ Kai Forsterling
It cannot be denied that we are experiencing an exceptional summer. For two reasons. The first, because clients want holidays, and, above all, those in August and on the beach. Four out of ten national travelers concentrate them in this month, according to ObservaTur. On an international scale, Spain continues to be the most requested country among Europeans, according to the Jetcost search engine; Not surprisingly, 17 of the 30 most requested destinations in the world are located on the Peninsula. And the second, because the sector has prayed to all the saints to make up for the lean years and this year they have paid attention to it.
Most surveys confirm that the top two reasons to come are value for money and sustainability. Regarding the first, in September we will know the reaction of tourists after the 10% increase in the prices of planes, hotels, hospitality and tourist packages, compared to the experience obtained; Don’t forget that the client is less concerned about the cost if what is obtained is better. Regarding the second, sustainability, we sometimes lie outrageously when we are surveyed. The perception of this August will penalize, without a doubt, because the country had long since begun a path of demassification, deseasonalization and improvement of the vacation experience.
The finding of the European Travel Commission resounds: before the heavy fires and high temperatures became known, the interest of European travelers in the Mediterranean had fallen by ten percent. This August heals many economies in the short term. It has unleashed interest in the coast as if there were no tomorrow, when that day may mean the displacement to other places of the large population flows directed towards our coast for more than fifty years, as a consequence of the extreme climatic phenomena that causes climate change. Only destinations that have established themselves – like many excellent ones that have earned it with well-anchored sedentary businesses throughout the year – will be able to continue attracting tourists. Then we will ask ourselves if this August of lack of control has been worth it.
