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Monday, 30 October 2006 |
Huelva continues leading the Andalusian tourist movement, as is reflected in the excellent results registered in the province during the Summer, with a growth of 22.83% in the number of travellers lodged in hotels and similar establishments compared to last year, at 12.53%, 8 points more than the Andalusian average.
Huelva reached the maximum level amongst the Andalusian provinces, with 81.19% of hotel occupation in August, and longest stays and number of bookings, which almost reached 4,000. The outlook continued very positive in September when expectations of occupancy were surpassed. Spaniards continued in the majority accounting for 84%. The President of the Provincial Tourism Authority, Sr. Jose Prieto, described this Summer as "excellent", considering that the onubense hotel beds supply has also increased, according to, Sr Javier Blanco, also of that organisation. Stays during January and August of this year, 2.581.852, were 10 points more than last year with an increase of more than 600 beds in the 3, 4 and 5 stars categories, making Huelva an attractive, confident destination much in demand. The aim is to maintain our level of services and attention to the client.
The citizens of the province of Huelva place a high social value on tourism, since they consider that the positive effects of this activity surpass to the negative effects that the development of this sector could generate, according to the study "Social Perception of the 0nubenses regarding Tourism", by a University of Huelvagroup, which Sr Prieto affirmed had "already become a very useful tool in understanding the image in the Onubense society of tourist activity". Sr. Blanco expressed relief that the majority of Onubenses, according to the study, "is conscious of the importance of the development of the tourist sector for the economy of a province like Huelva as well as for the construction of a competitive hotel base which entails the creation of more jobs".
However, although the average citizen is concerned, according to studies carried out in the provinces in June, about resultant increased housing costs and the problems of traffic and parking appear as more negative effects, particularly as he/she is aware of the undesirable consequences such touristic development has had in other places, the incipient character of the Onubense views tourism more as an opportunity than as a threat. Thus, they demand a greater participation, in the sense that their opinions be more taken into account. Equally, more than 60% consider that the Onubense Coast is undergoing an excessive city-planning pressure, which can explain the trend towards the construction of hotels as opposed to urbanizations. However, also 2 in 3 put the development of the tourist sector as a priority to the problem of strong city-planning growth. |
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