Andorra Hotels Expect Strong Summer Occupancy Boost from Events and Geopolitics

The Unió Hotelera d’Andorra (UHA) remains optimistic about summer hotel occupancy rates, expecting them to match or exceed recent years thanks to competitive offerings, key events and geopolitical factors that could boost regional travel.

UHA president Jordi París, speaking to the Andorran News Agency (ANA), stated that no indicators point to a drop-off from previous seasons. He described international conflicts and rising fuel costs as potential allies, likely steering tourists toward nearby destinations rather than distant flights. Andorra’s tourist portfolio stands out as “very competitive,” he said, positioning it well to draw visitors from proximity markets.

París aims to top last July’s 66% occupancy, the strongest in a decade and ahead of both 2024 and pre-pandemic levels. “It would be great to achieve a slightly better July,” he said.

The season will feature a fresh Cirque du Soleil show alongside international sports competitions, which París called a “driver of attraction” aiding Andorra’s repositioning on the map. He praised initiatives from Andorra Turisme and the communes for creating appealing products that pull in visitors from outside local parishes.

Addressing suggestions that the Cirque du Soleil model might be tiring, París called it an undoubted success. Since the first full post-pandemic summer in 2022, occupancy has risen 1.5 to 2 percentage points each year, a trend he links partly to the production’s draw, with nearly sold-out crowds for its 22 shows. While alternatives will be needed eventually to sustain that pull, he acknowledged the difficulty in finding a replacement with such reliable appeal. “Something from Cirque du Soleil must remain in the improvement of these hotel occupancies,” he stressed.