HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

Spain's tourism sector has experienced a remarkable surge in employment during the third quarter of 2023, with nearly 3 million people finding gainful employment, according to data released by Turespana, the Spanish tourism office. This surge represents a 6.5 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022, and it underscores the industry's resilience and recovery following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between July and September 2023, an additional 180,604 individuals secured jobs in various tourism-related roles, a significant uptick compared to the equivalent quarter in the previous year, as reported by SchengenVisaInfo.com. This boost in employment is a testament to the sector's ability to adapt and bounce back from the difficulties faced in the wake of the pandemic.

Several autonomous communities within Spain experienced substantial growth in employment, with Catalonia leading the way with 513,831 employed individuals, followed by Madrid with 424,390, the Valencian Community with 297,481, and the Canary Islands with 267,801 employees. These figures highlight the widespread nature of the industry's resurgence across the country.

During this quarter, the unemployment rate stood at 8.1%, marking a 0.4% decrease from the second quarter of 2023 and a decline compared to the same period in 2022. This drop in unemployment is seen as a positive sign of the sector's health and potential for sustained growth.

Hector Gomez, the Spanish Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, expressed his satisfaction with the industry's progress, saying, "We continue to transform the material conditions of employment linked to tourism: more employed, more salaried, more permanent contracts and more full-time jobs; in short, more and better jobs to reinforce the social nature of tourism."

Compared to the second quarter of 2023, the third quarter's expansion has been most noticeable among employed individuals, including an increase in salaried workers and individuals with long-term employment agreements. However, the number of people with temporary contracts and self-employed workers has diminished compared to the same period in the previous year, indicating a shift towards more stable and secure employment in the industry.

Gomez emphasised that the increase in individuals with permanent employment contracts is a significant milestone in the history of the Spanish tourism sector, signifying greater job security and stability for the workforce.
Several key segments of the tourism industry have experienced notable growth during this period:

• The hospitality sector recorded an impressive 7.7 percent growth.
• Food and beverage services displayed a substantial 7.9 percent upswing.
• Accommodation services registered a solid increase in employment.
• Passenger transport witnessed a remarkable 10.9 percent expansion, reflecting increased travel and tourism activity.

Overall, Spain's tourism sector is on a path of significant recovery and growth. Recent data from the National Institute of Statistics of Spain (INE) revealed that tourists in Spain logged an additional two million overnight stays in September 2023 compared to the same month in the previous year. Additionally, the Spanish Ministry of Tourism reported that 73.2 million international passengers visited Spain between January and September 2023, indicating a strong resurgence in international tourism.

Turespana projects that tourism spending in Spain for 2023 is expected to exceed the 2019 record, showcasing the country's resilience and popularity as a preferred European destination, especially for visitors from the United Kingdom, surpassing Germany and France. Spain's tourism industry appears to be back on a trajectory of growth and prosperity, contributing to the country's economic well-being.

Source: SchengenVisaInfo