Opportunities and threats
Analysis of the main trends and developments in international tourism in recent years brings out an appreciable change in the model of the tourism sector.
Tourists are steadily becoming more choosy and critical, using internet and social networking sites to glean a huge amount of information and opinions on tourism destinations, greatly increasing their decision-making powers.
In this context the tourism sector can no longer afford to base its competitive edge on easily replicated attributes. This strategy would eventually boil down inter-country competition to price alone.
In this scenario certain threats and opportunities stand out for Spain’s tourism sector:
Threats: these involve factors that are external to the country and affect it adversely.
The worsening economic downturn in Europe: although this situation affects all productive sectors, the special dependence of Spain’s tourism sector on traditional outbound countries tends to multiply its impact. The growth forecasts for Spain’s main markets in 2012 are 0.7% in Germany, 0.5% in the UK and France and a fall of 1.4% in Italy. (European Commission, 2012)
Threat of destinations from the Mediterranean Arc: based on price-competitive seaside tourism. An 8% increase in international tourist arrivals to North Africa is forecast for 2012. (WTO, 2012)
High seasonality due to the common holiday periods: many outbound countries tend to take their main holidays on the same dates (Easter, Christmas, summer holidays…).
Improvement of developing countries’ country brand: quite apart from Spain’s natural competitors, the improvement in the economic and social development of many countries has raised the level of their country brand and attraction as a tourism destination.