Valencia closes 2024 with a tourism record and optimistic prospects for 2025.

Valencia has closed the year 2024 with surprising figures in its tourism sector, despite the challenges posed by the Dance of the Waters on October 29, which negatively impacted the last two months of the year. According to the report presented by Paula Llobet, the city councilor for Tourism and president of the Visit Valencia Foundation, the city recorded a total of 6.08 million overnight stays in hotel and tourist accommodations, representing a notable increase of 10.3% compared to the previous year. This growth in tourism has been supported by a significant increase in international demand, which has grown by 19.4% and reached 4.2 million overnight stays. This increase has been backed by a notable interest from travelers coming from countries like the United States and Germany, where increases of 30% were recorded. Other markets such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom also showed positive figures, highlighting Valencia's appeal as an international destination. Despite November and December seeing a decline in overnight stays of 7.4% and 6% respectively, the growth in the preceding months has been sufficient to offset this decrease. Councilor Llobet emphasized the importance of maintaining tourism growth not only in quantity but also in quality, ensuring that tourism activity benefits both visitors and the citizens of Valencia. The figures also reflect an increase in the total number of travelers, which reached 2.4 million in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 4.5%. These data not only demonstrate recovery after the pandemic but also a growing interest from tourists seeking authentic and diverse experiences in the city. In terms of profitability, Valencia's tourism sector maintained an average hotel occupancy rate of 78%, although this figure represents a slight decrease of 1.4 percentage points compared to the previous year. However, the average hotel price has increased by 5.4%, reaching 118.4 euros, suggesting an improvement in the quality of the tourism offering. Additionally, the RevPAR (revenue per available room) has grown by 3.6%, standing at 93.6 euros, indicating that hotels are achieving greater profitability per room. Another positive data point is the increase in the average length of stay, which has risen by 5.6%, settling at 2.5 nights, contributing to higher spending by tourists in the city. Prospects for 2025 appear optimistic. In recent weeks, over 1.6 million weekly searches related to Valencia have been recorded, representing a 78% increase compared to search levels at the end of December, when searches did not exceed one million. This suggests that interest in visiting Valencia continues to grow and that the city is positioning itself as an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists. The Valencia City Council's strategy focuses on developing a tourism model that not only boosts the economy but also improves the quality of life for its residents. This approach seeks to protect the cultural and natural wealth of the city, ensuring that tourism is sustainable and beneficial for all. With these figures in hand, Valencia looks to the future with the hope of continuing to capture the attention of more visitors while working to maintain a balance between tourism growth and the well-being of its own citizens. In a world where tourism has become an essential pillar for many economies, Valencia seems to be on the right track to consolidate itself as a preferred destination on the international stage.