The long touristic season is reaching the end. In the case of Sitges, our economic figures are slightly better than a year ago, but we are still suffering from the uncertainties provoked by the current economic crisis. Unfortunately, our country is taking a harsh punishment because the right decisions were not taken in time.
In Sitges, this summer’s hotel occupancy rates are slightly better than those of 2010. During June, hotels and camping had a occupancy rate of 75%, five points over the previous year; during July it was 83% (compared to a year-to-date of 80%), and during August, occupancy rates lingered at the peak of 90%. Figures are satisfactory and stress the vitality, power and the positioning of our municipality as one of the tourist flagships in Catalonia. Such a fact allows to hope for a better future. Some circumstances affected positively the results of the European Mediterranean coast, such as the current doubts affecting some consolidated markets in North Africa. But other elements escape from our grasp, such as the evening out of the Pound Sterling that scares British tourists away, or the bad weather during July. Such facts had a negative influence on final results.
The beginning of Autumn, and consequently, the Winter Campaign that arrives when the Festival ends, marks the start of a period in which the tourist industry will have to devote all their energy to keep their capacity. The current situation is quite complex, and we can’t still detect any change of cycle in the horizon. That’s why we are in a moment that requires the maximum cooperation among all the sectors. We need imagination and insight to take advantage of any opportunity, and we also need the necessary collective strength to maintain our stance.
The Government that I preside will not hold back any support to commerce, to the hotel industry and to the bars and restaurants of Sitges. The City Council’s financial situation is in dire straits, so the short term support will not be economical, but it can be implemented by means of other policies that can be equally beneficial for the sector. The campaign against illegal flee markets during the last couple of weeks –illegal flee markets brutally penalize legal local merchants-, or the improvement of beach services, are actions with a very positive effect on the local economic fabric.
The glamour of Sitges, a first class tourist destination during more than a century, will help us to face the future. All the above is very important, since it will allow us to have a controlled designation of origin. But currently this is not enough, since tourism and the service sector at large are perceived as a way of economic development. That’s why we must act in a more imaginative way, we must combine efforts and bet for quality as the best investment warranty for the future.
I’ll take advantage of my second entry in my Blog to announce that my weekly postings will be translated into Spanish and English. We want to transmit our message beyond our frontiers and reinforce our international projection.
Lastly, I want to express my sincerest thanks to all those that made possible the Festivity of the Verema during the last 50 years. Thanks to them, the streets of Sitges were filled with magic again.
I wish all of you a happy Santa Tecla, specially for the younger ones!!
