Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tourism: A Clustering Approach for the Spanish Tourism Analysis

Abstract

Since the middle of the last century, the Spanish tourism sector has experienced significant growth, which was interrupted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation had a considerable impact on Spain, as the country is a leading world tourism destination and relies heavily on this sector in its economy, making it vulnerable when demand for tourism services declines. The tourism model in Spain is not homogeneous, and the Mediterranean coastal regions and island areas are highly dependent on tourism as a main source of economic income and were particularly affected by the consequences of the pandemic. This study analyzes the impact of the pandemic on the tourism sector in each Spanish autonomous community, focusing on tourism demand through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The results reveal the disparity and vulnerability of Spanish regions to the tourism crisis. The most tourist-dependent areas dependent on international tourism have experienced a decline due to restrictions and a fall in demand. On the other hand, rural regions that depend mainly on national tourism have suffered fewer effects.