The tourism sector of the province of Lleida has started the main Easter weekend with an expected occupancy of between 80% and 90%, figures that the business community considers good and that could even be surpassed if the weather improvement is confirmed in the coming hours.
The evolution of reservations maintains optimism in the territory, especially in a context marked by meteorology and by the weight of last-minute decisions. Josep Castellarnau, president of the Federació d'Hostaleria de Lleida, trusts in that last-minute rebound.
"With good weather we could improve those figures thanks to last-minute bookings" - Josep Castellarnau, president of the Federació d'Hostaleria de Lleida
Campsites full and rural tourism pending last minute
The campsites of Lleida reached 100% occupancy on Thursday, with the exception of the camping areas in the Pyrenees, where the cold has curbed part of the demand. In parallel, rural tourism was moving before the long weekend at around 90%, still pending reservations that usually come in at the last minute.
The forecast of meteorological improvement from Saturday onwards can also benefit the final stretch of the snow season. The winter resorts have worked throughout the week at half capacity due to strong winds, which have forced some slopes to partially close, but the change in weather can favor skiing on the last weekend of the season.
The snow maintains incidents on the road
The storm continued to cause road disruptions on Thursday in the Lleida Pyrenees. On the C 28 at the height of Alt Àneu it was mandatory to drive with chains, while the Bonaigua pass reopened after having been closed due to avalanche risk.
The behavior of reservations and the weather thus mark the pulse of a key Holy Week for Lleida, with good accommodation prospects and with the expectation that the weather will end up pushing the influx in the mountain regions.
The spending of visitors, another factor at play
Along with occupancy, the sector also observes with attention the impact of the economic context on travelers' pockets. Castellarnau warns that the rising cost of some usual expenses may end up being reflected in tourist consumption during these days.
"If tourists have to crunch numbers because mortgages and gasoline are going up, everything impacts the spending they can do, and that can indeed affect Lleida tourism" - Josep Castellarnau, president of the Federation of Hospitality of Lleida
With all, the start of the long weekend leaves an image of high occupancy in the province and a favorable expectation for the coming hours, with special attention to the last-minute response and to the evolution of the weather in the Pyrenees.