Salou, a tourist destination beyond the sun and beach
Atalayar had the opportunity to interview the Mayor of Salou, Pere Granados, at the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) held in Madrid, where the city of Tarragona was presented as a "premium destination" where tourists can enjoy offers that go beyond sun and beach.
What are Salou's objectives at this year's FITUR?
First of all, I would like to highlight that this summer we have already recovered the situation of what was that historic year of 2019 and we have had even more visitors. In addition, the tourists who have visited us have spent more than 40% more in the destination than in 2019. We are very happy. This FITUR will be spectacular and everything points to it.
We have come to present Salou as a tourist destination specialising in this case in sport. Sun and beach tourist destinations not only offer that, but we have created many tourist products so that our visitors can enjoy the sun and the magnificent beaches that Salou has, but also to practice sport or enjoy the gastronomy that we will have the opportunity to show here at FITUR. We have a powerful historical heritage and a natural heritage with beautiful coves and incredible Mediterranean landscapes.
Sun and beach destinations have a lot to offer, and that's what we're here to showcase in Madrid: to showcase Salou as a tourist town in the Spanish market. Salou has a lot to offer in terms of having a good time.
Spaniards have always had a tourist destination on the Costa Brava. Can political issues have an impact?
Salou is the capital of the Costa Brava and has shown over the years that it has been very welcoming to tourists because we are a hospitable municipality for Spanish tourism. In fact, Spanish tourism is the number one tourist destination, even ahead of international tourism. In Salou, Spanish tourists have found themselves loved, which is why they always come back and 98% of the people who have visited us say that they would come back and recommend Salou as a holiday destination. So, I don't think the political aspect has affected us at all.
Have you recovered from the pandemic and is there a situation without security measures? Now with the energy crisis, are you confident that people will continue to go to Salou with all the offers it has to offer?
Yes, let's say that Salou is a premium destination and anyone can come to enjoy these premium offers. What also worries us is the war in Ukraine due to the invasion of Russia, because we were a great reference in Spanish destinations in the Russian market, possibly we were leaders. It is clear that this market has been lost, and not only the Russian market, but also the Ukrainian market due to the circumstances of the war. Belarus and all the Baltic republics have been affected, including Poland. We call for an end to this war, first of all for the sake of the people, and then to allow both Russians and Ukrainians to have their holidays and return to Salou.
As for the pandemic, we can say that it has already been forgotten, and very quickly. Because although it is true that the number of overnight stays has not reached the figures for 2019 due to the drop in Russian tourism, the number of visitors has been exceeded.
Once the situation normalises after the war in Ukraine, which is a European war, I believe that Salou will be one of the most sought-after places in the European market.
If you had to sum up in one sentence a message for people to visit Salou, what would you tell them?
Salou is a premium destination. A destination that has a high quality in all the services it provides and many facilities to enjoy a holiday and, in short, to be happy in an idyllic destination like Salou.
