SPANISH TOURISM BOOST BRINGS UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN

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As the Eurozone continues to suffer during the economic crisis, there is good news in Spain as unemployment drops for the fourth month in a row – something that many are putting down to the continuing success of the tourism industry.

Figures released by the Spanish government last week revealed that the number of Spanish job seekers dropped by 127,248, representing a reduction of 2.6 per cent and leaving around 4.76 million people currently seeking employment. While the overall total is still high, the figures marked the fourth month in a row that the jobless total has reduced and the month of June saw the steepest drop since records began in 1997.

The figures were released around the same time as the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism revealed that May had been the best month for tourism since it started its regular survey. Around 5.8 million foreign tourists arrived in Spain during the course of the month, seven per cent more than arrived in May 2012. Much of this was down to increasing numbers visitors from Germany and the UK taking advantage of the many travel operators offering cheap flights in 2013, with numbers up 13.2 per cent and 9.3 per cent respectively.

The Ministry also revealed that domestic tourism grew during May with overnight stays up 13.8 per cent as residents of Spain elect to cut back and vacation at home rather than abroad.

The Spanish tourism industry may also receive an unexpected boost as Turkey continues to suffer civil unrest. With bookings to Turkish cities down by as much as 40 per cent, if tourists choose to avoid the country’s coastal areas as well, Spain could receive a much-needed boost, as was the case when Greece was in turmoil in recent years. Areas expected to pick up those who would have spent their holidays in Turkey include the Costa del Sol and the Balearics.

Referring to the situation in Turkey, Rafael Gallego, president of Spain’s Travel Agencies Federation, was quoted by news agency Europa Press as saying: "The repercussions are going to be considerable and we have to be prepared."

As Spain enters the peak season for the tourism industry, it appears that the government’s plans for recovery and growth this year may be working and the hope is that unemployment will continue to fall as the tourism industry remains strong.

Martin Collins is a freelance journalist based in Madrid.

Image by Darren Wilkinson used under creative commons licence

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/39706/

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