Alex Trelinski
LOWER hotel occupancy rates in the Valencian Community during the peak summer period are being blamed on illegal tourist accommodation in the region.
The regional hotel association, Hosbec, says that summer season occupancy will be down two or three percentage points compared to last year.
That though has been counterbalanced by increased prices meaning that lower bookings are not a serious financial issue.
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Nevertheless, Hosbec president, Fede Fuster has pointed the finger at people using unlicensed accommodation as foreign visitor numbers soar to record numbers.
The association claims that of 100,000 flats being used for tourists, around half of which are illegal or are only partially legal.
“It is no longer a problem of business competition, which is how it was being seen until now, but it has become a social problem,” said Fuster.
“We believe that the new regional regulations are going to be an important step for regulation,” he added.
New measures passed last month include more inspections and much more severe financial penalties for transgressors.
“Tourist accommodation does not spell the end for hotels but can add value to the market if it is better controlled and professionalised,” Fuster commented.
Widening out the analysis of the hotel sector and its appeal to foreign tourists, Hosbec believes that ground work will be paying off to get more bookings in the low season.
“Having a good summer is not enough and have to work well all year through deseasonalisation which have beeen working at for many years,” said Fede Fuster.
“International tourists have an organisational capacity that we Spaniards do not have, because we do everything at the last minute and that is not good for us.”
