Catalans opt for leaving the city and people prefer open spaces.
This year's exceptional situation will have consequences when trying to choose a destination for our summer holidays, which are usually planned by now. The current scenario is so uncertain that people do not want to leave their place, but they do want to spend some days somewhere with fresh air, and many rule out staying home. These are some of the conclusions of a study carried out by the Laboratory of Heritage, Creativity Cultural Tourism (LABPATC) of the Faculty of Geography and History of the UB, which highlights the tourist sector opts for Delta de l'Ebre (30%) and Costa Brava (28%) as preferred destinations by the Catalans for their first summer holiday after lockdown.
To conduct this study on destinations and cultural tendencies in the scene of tourist reactivation in Catalonia, a survey was carried out during April to half a thousand Catalan travel agents. The response ratio was 85%. According to Jordi Tresserras Juan, researcher from LABPATC and coordinator of the survey, it is a preliminary study, since two more surveys are being conducted, "one to the public in order to know the real demand and another to the cultural sector, to contrast the results with the opinion of the travel agents".
Local tourism in open spaces escaping the city
The interest for open spaces, understood as a clear response to the lockdown, local gastronomy in terraces, walking around the city, historical centers and charming villages are highlighted as the chosen activities by the Catalans. "They had the option to stay home, which almost no one chose", notes Tresserras, and he says that "it is clear that Catalans will opt for leaving the cities and go to open spaces". Regarding the destinations, the study places the Pyrenees in the third place, followed by Montserrat and spas. A 15% of the results groups the less voted destinations by the sector, among which are Barcelona (with 2.8%) and Costa Daurada (1.8%).
To the question "What cultural experiences do you think people in Catalonia will have once we can travel?", the travel agents responded that the most wanted activity is local gastronomy in an open spaces, with 24% of the votes. Walking around towns and historical centers is the second most voted option, with a 16% of votes, followed by traditional town festivities, with 13% of the votes. The following chosen options are visiting charming villages (10% of votes), attending concerts and festivals (7%), visiting art museums (5%), going to private houses and book stores (both 3%), going to see castellers (human towers, 2%) and going to historical spas (1%). Regarding the activities listed in the category of "others" (16%), the parks and historical gardens had a 0.9% of votes, and open space archaeological sites, 0.9% too.
LABPAT Will complete the study with a survey carried out to identify the measures that are taken and scheduled on the short run in the sector of cultural heritage (material and immaterial) and museums regarding post-COVID-19 tourism.
