Benidorm is packed to the rafters as it is almost every summer, but it is suffering the impact of inflation on tourists’ wallets in a distinct way: supermarkets are winning the battle against restaurants, which are enduring a worrying decline during the most crucial weeks of the year.
Javier del Castillo, president of the Benidorm and Region Restaurant Association (Abreca), explains that people’s purchasing power has dropped considerably. Just paying for the hotel room or renting the apartment consumes a good part of their holiday money, so when it comes to spending, there is less enthusiasm.
According to Abreca’s estimates, sales in bars and restaurants have suffered a drop of between 5% and 7%. This trend is completely opposite to that experienced by supermarkets, which have benefited from the change in travellers’ habits. Del Castillo noted that those who go to apartments and flats prefer to buy food and take it to their room, whilst admitting that the restaurant industry has been forced to raise prices as a result of inflation.
The president of the Alicante Provincial Association of Hospitality Businesses (APEHA), María del Mar Valera, echoed these sentiments. She noted that this year, as last year, the drop in restaurant spending has been very noticeable, especially in coastal areas, whereas inland areas report a very good summer. She added that domestic tourism has declined, and the foreign tourists who do come are ordering the cheapest items on the menus.
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