Spain’s Minister of Tourism, Gloria Rojas, said the pandemic and the closure of borders with Morocco have caused passenger traffic to drop to 250,000 travelers in 2020, and 2021, according to Spanish Media outlets.
In the pre-pandemic period, the city received 800,000 travelers in 2019, compared to only 250,000 recorded in the last two years, a decrease of 550,000 travelers.
“The closure of borders with Morocco has negatively affected the number of visitors to Melilla, namely in two sectors: trade and tourism,” Rojas said in a statement, adding, “ Since there was no access to the city, no purchases were made, neither maritime passenger traffic, which has led to a very significant decrease.”
“In 2021, there has been an increase in the number of travelers arriving in the city, of just over 30%, compared to 2020, as well as an increase in the occupancy rate in hotels, up by 42.97%,” she specified.
“The city’s tourism sector has attracted 2,761 applications, resulting in the arrival of 4,752 travelers,” she added.
Spain’s official said she hopes the city will attract more travelers in 2022, adopting promotion plans for this aim.
The European Union through Spain’s Government has allocated a budget for the Recovery Plan, Transformation and Resilience, set at €10 million.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.