Strong summer season in Priorat and a recovery of foreign visitors
The summer and the gastronomic festivals have finally come to an end. In terms of tourism, it was certainly a great success! The season rounds off with figures similar to those from 2021, indicating a rebound of foreign visitors to a pre-pandemic level.
The data show that 72% of visitors to Priorat are Catalan. What’s more, the most common profile is that of the Catalan tourists travelling as a couple; they usually have an interest in wine and make a booking only 48 hours in advance.
The figures also demonstrate the recovery of visitors from abroad. According to our partner establishments, foreign tourists account for 16.7% of the total visitors, while Spanish tourists account for 11.1%. As for the profiles, although couples remain the leading category, this summer has also seen the return of international and company groups, as well as wine lovers.
Another good news is that 88.9% of guests come back to Priorat and some even to the very same establishment they visited before. In the words of Maria Jesús Sánchez, CEO of Priorat Enoturismo: “we should continue to do things as we have done up to now, with a warm approach and by promoting local produce and the consumption of the regional wines and oils”.
When it comes to determining the factors that attract tourists to Priorat, the establishments have no doubts: interest in wine is the leading reason (77.8%), followed by nature, gastronomy and culture.
The survey shows that 80% of visitors make a booking on the same day or less than 48 hours in advance. That is why we encourage you to book more in advance since, in most cases, the establishments already have a high volume of guests during high season and on the weekends.
The end of “Priorat Tomato and Garden Vegetable Festivals”
The gastronomic festivals, which ended on 11 September, yielded very positive results. The partners of Priorat Enoturismo sold almost a thousand dishes and tapas to the attendees.
The association’s CEO Maria Jesús Sánchez confirms that the festivals “contribute to enhancing what the summer has to offer, prioritising the loyal audience that values the region’s wine and cuisine, who’s eager to learn more about the culture, the land and the identity of Priorat.”
The events also aim to showcase the region’s vegetables, while promoting the recovery of traditional varieties as well as their production and consumption in tourist establishments in Priorat. In other words, celebrating the gastronomic tradition of the region, while mitigating the loss of cultivated biodiversity.
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