Summer of rural tourism in Almanzora: "We are almost 100% occupied"
Rural housing reserves soar to 95% of supply in July and AugustThe coronavirus pandemic has not only brought about a change in our social relationships and in our consumption habits, but also in our tourist habits, which are characterised on this journey towards the new normality by an enormous role of the countryside as a favourite vacation destination.
At a time when "sprouts" are taking place throughout Spain, thousands of tourists have opted for tranquillity and the absence of crowds in rural areas such as the Almanzora Valley, where occupancy in rural homes is close to 100% until September, as explained by the president of the Valle del Almanzora Association of Tourist Entrepreneurs, Luis Aurelio Pérez.
Flurry of reservations
"We had a flurry of requests in June and, according to the calculations we have made, we are at 95% occupancy of rural houses during the months of July and August," said Pérez, who also announced that "there are very few places” in the rest of the accommodations, so the occupation is really high for the region facing the summer.
Indigenous tourism
This is a new phenomenon, undoubtedly motivated by the change in life that the pandemic has brought, both in terms of security and in terms of shouldering with local industry and commerce, a spontaneous solidarity movement that runs throughout the country.
A movement that, among other things, is also allowing this approach to rural areas of the interior of Spain such as the Almanzora Valley, a region where people "are beginning to discover that there are many things", reflects Luis Aurelio Pérez, who well knows that this Almerian piece of 'Spain emptied'. "People are realising that what we have very close we do not know. This is perhaps the ideal time to travel and get to know it, especially in a region such as the Almanzora Valley, which may be one of the safest in Spain,” he maintains.
Activities
Security that is not at odds with entertainment if you have the correct information. The Valle del Almanzora Association of Tourist Entrepreneurs has worked hard, taking advantage of the slowdown of the pandemic, in preparing an agenda of activities with the aim of further promoting tourism in this region of Almería.
There are up to 30 unique attractions in the Almanzora Valley, such as the tourist businessmen in the area have summarised in a tourist brochure that will be distributed, as every year, over the next few days by tourist offices throughout Almería Levante.
And it is that the tourism models are not exclusive or absolute and that is why many people who visit the coasts in search of sun and beach, also want to do inland tourism. Both they and those who want to isolate themselves in the countryside, the Almanzora Valley awaits them with open arms.
Obviously some people are a little bit worried about taking a beach holiday this August and so are invading inland areas, be wary, keep a long distance from others you don't know and even if you do know them beware, they may not have done the same
