one week, less August and more visits to the town

2023-09-17 16:29:55

Runaway inflation and changes in work habits are changing Spaniards’ vacations. Before the 2008 financial crisis, large cities were practically empty throughout August and the exodus was concentrated for almost an entire month. Now, the cost of accommodation and the extra costs associated with being away from home for weeks have reduced vacations and staggered rest more.

With the price of hotels, hostels, pensions and accommodation services 6.9% more expensive in August compared to a year before, five percentage points more than in June and a cumulative annual increase of 27.6%, Spaniards They have had to increase vacation spending by 24%, which stood at around 1,130 euros on average, a figure slightly lower than the spending intention shown last June, according to a report from the Cetelem Observatory.

However, contrary to popular belief, vacations away from home are shorter than you think. And the majority of Spaniards usually go on vacation for one or two weeks during the summer period and opt for sun and beach destinations, according to a survey by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS) on the vacation customs and gastronomic preferences of the citizenship.

The results of the study reveal that 32.2% of Spaniards usually go on vacation between one and two weeks, while 26.2% go on vacation for only one.

Regarding the type of visit, more than half opt for sun and beach tourism (51.5%), followed by cultural tourism (45.9%) and visits focused on contact with nature (37.7%). %).

To stay, despite the increase in prices, the hotel or aparthotel is the favorite option, specifically for 45.8% of tourists, far from renting a home (14.3%) and a second residence (13% ) as a place to spend the night during the summer holidays.

The survey indicates the importance of the Internet when it comes to organizing rest days, with 61.4% using it, compared to 14.9% who go to travel agencies.

Also noteworthy is the use of social networks and digital platforms to seek ratings and opinions from other users, an operation carried out by 47.4% of visitors to choose tourist and gastronomic services.

During the holidays, people eat and dine out more, which is why 33.3% of those surveyed admit to having lunch or dinner in a restaurant more than three times, especially young people between 25 and 34 years old (51.4%) and those between 18 and 24 years old (40.55%), while 32.9% usually go to a restaurant two or three times a month.