Barcelona's Tourism Sector Is Watching Instability in the U.S.

The tourism sector in Barcelona is currently monitoring the potential repercussions of economic and political uncertainties in the United States, according to El País (Blanchar, 2025). With American tourists representing a significant portion of visitors to the Catalan capital, any fluctuations in the U.S. economy, particularly those tied to trade policies and currency valuation, could have notable consequences.

The Significance of American Tourists

American tourists hold a prominent position within Barcelona's tourism landscape. According to data reported by El País (Blanchar, 2025), they constitute the largest group of foreign visitors after those from other parts of Spain. In the past year, they accounted for 14.1% of hotel stays, translating to approximately 1.1 million individuals out of a total of nearly eight million. Moreover, Americans tend to stay longer, averaging five nights per visit, and they represent a substantial segment of cruise passengers, with one in five cruise travelers being American.

These tourists are highly valued due to their spending habits, exceeding the average daily expenditure of other visitors, and their propensity to return to the city. El País (Blanchar, 2025) reported that, hoteliers have expressed their concerns, and local businesses emphasize the impact of American purchases.

Potential Economic Impacts

The primary worry stems from potential shifts in currency value, particularly a possible weakening of the dollar. El País (Blanchar, 2025) highlights the concerns of Gabriel Jené, president of Barcelona Oberta, a merchant association, who believes that «the depreciation of the dollar will have a direct impact on spending in Barcelona, given their weight among visitors».

While a strong dollar favors American travel to Europe, a weaker dollar could potentially deter some tourists. However, Mateu Hernández, general director of Turismo de Barcelona, suggests that the socio-economic profile of American tourists might mitigate this effect, according to El País (Blanchar, 2025). He argues that travel is deeply ingrained in American culture, particularly among the upper-middle class.

Strategies and Perspectives

Barcelona's tourism sector is proactively considering strategies to counter potential negative impacts. These include:

  • Monitoring the Situation: The city council and Turismo de Barcelona are closely monitoring indicators to detect any changes in tourist flows, as per El País (Blanchar, 2025).
  • Diversifying Tourist Markets: Efforts are underway to attract tourists from emerging markets such as India, China, Japan, and the Middle East.
  • Capitalizing on Cultural Events: Barcelona is leveraging upcoming cultural milestones, such as the completion of the Sagrada Familia's tower and the centenary of Gaudí's death, to attract Asian tourists, according to El País (Blanchar, 2025).
  • Attracting Displaced Tourists: Hoteliers are exploring ways to attract tourists who might have altered their plans to visit the United States due to current conditions.

Manel Casals, general director of the Hotel Association, emphasized the importance of analyzing potential scenarios and acting accordingly, mentioning that it is too early to tell what the true effects will be, according to El País (Blanchar, 2025). Meanwhile, Alfredo Serrano, director for Spain of the CLIA cruise association, notes that cruise bookings are made well in advance, suggesting any impact might not be immediately apparent. However, he also stated in El País (Blanchar, 2025) that the interest from North Americans is still very strong.

Barcelona's Resilience

Despite the concerns, experts suggest that Barcelona possesses inherent strengths that make it resilient to external economic shocks. José Luis Nueno, professor at IESE Business School, highlights the city's strong brand recognition among American tourists, its numerous direct flights to the U.S., and its significance for Mediterranean cruises, according to El País (Blanchar, 2025). He also notes the pent-up demand for travel following the pandemic and the tendency for families to allocate unexpected financial gains to travel.

Traveler Anxiety

Nueno points out a concerning trend of «traveler anxiety,» with agencies receiving inquiries about potential hostility towards travelers in destinations perceived to have strained relations with the U.S. It remains to be seen whether this concern will extend to European destinations, according to El País (Blanchar, 2025).

In conclusion, while economic and political uncertainties in the United States are prompting caution within Barcelona's tourism sector, ongoing monitoring, diversification strategies, and inherent strengths of the destination are expected to mitigate potential adverse effects. The situation is being carefully watched, and preparations are underway to adapt to any emerging changes in tourist behavior.