3 reasons for rural tourism in Spain this winter
12 February, 2025The pandemic boosted interest in rural tourism and since then there has been “considerable growth” of up to 5 points in market penetration, reaching 45.6% in 2024 and a growth of 7.6% in spending at destination, according to data from the Rural Tourism Observatory. The sector insists that geographical diversity, authenticity and deseasonalisation must be promoted.
The main reason given for choosing rural tourism is the desire to discover new areas of Spain, beyond the well-known destinations. However, there are still great inequalities in the occupation of accommodation at a geographical level. For this reason, the essence of rural tourism lies in the authenticity of the experience. Travellers particularly value the direct and personal contact with the hoteliers, as well as the respect for the architecture and the accommodation’s rustic character.
And although a rural destination can be enjoyed at any time of the year, occupancy data reveals that there are clearly marked peaks. Demand is highest at Easter, New Year’s Eve, the summer holidays and long weekends. However, it is outside these dates that rural tourism becomes even more attractive.