August Brings Full Capacity to the Costa Blanca

The end of August, the most popular vacation month in Spain, has resulted in a historic achievement for the tourism industry in the Valencian Community. The region recorded an average hotel occupancy rate exceeding 90%, with destinations such as Benidorm, Calp, and Gandía surpassing 93%, according to data released this Tuesday by the hotel association Hosbec.

A significant factor contributing to these impressive figures is the still prevalent Spanish habit of making last-minute reservations. Hotel operators have been warning that, unlike in previous years, this practice no longer guarantees better conditions but more likely results in higher prices compared to those who plan ahead.

Additionally, four-star establishments have played a crucial role in this successful August for Valencian accommodations. These hotels have met and even exceeded expectations in most destinations within the region. Furthermore, as indicated by the latest statistics on tourist movements at the border, international tourists are increasingly choosing Spain and specifically the Valencian Community. This segment has grown by nearly 11% compared to the same period in 2023.

In the Costa Blanca, Calp and Benidorm stand out above all other destinations, achieving occupancy rates of 93.6% and 92.8%, respectively. These figures are only surpassed within the Valencian Community by Gandía, where up to 96.9% of hotel rooms were sold. In these areas, as well as in the province of Castellón, the national market is largely responsible for this success.

Excluding Benidorm from the equation, hotels in the province of Alicante saw an occupancy rate of 90.4%, with national visitors being the majority at 66%, followed distantly by British tourists (9.3%), who are the most numerous among foreign visitors.

The situation is quite different in Benidorm, where international tourists have a stronger presence, accounting for 58.4% of total visitors, with British tourists leading at 28.3%.

As is customary during the summer season, Portuguese tourists continue to choose Benidorm as their vacation destination, making up 13.6% of visitors, followed by French (2.9%) and Italian (2.2%) tourists.

Confirmed reservations in hotel management systems for the first half of September in Benidorm are already approaching 89%, two points higher than in 2023. For the rest of the Costa Blanca, this figure stands at just over 83%. In both cases, there is confidence that last-minute bookings will once again work their 'magic' and help achieve near-full occupancy rates.